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This time of year I have both species. Distinguishing them has already been covered. In respect to threats a sharp-shinned might threaten unattended chicks but not juveniles or larger. If you are like me and not in the sharp-shinned hawks breeding range then chicks and the hawk are not likely to be at same place at same time. During growing season Coopers Hawks will go after juveniles but not in presence of my defending adult games. Juveniles not defended and that weight 1/3 or less than hunting Coopers hawk will be targetted. During winter months a Coopers hawk will occasionally take an adult chicken but unless chicken is a bantam the hawk can not fliy off with catch. In my situation if hawk must stay on ground to dispatch and feed upon chicken, then it will very likely be attacked by other chickens with serious risk to hawk. For me Coopers hawks are only a serious threat to isolated chickens, even full adult games, or hen only flocks which I no longer maintain. They can take down adult red jungle fowl and the red jungle do not seem to muster a counter attack even when hawk is on ground.
Coopers literally fly within one of my free-ranging flocks almost daily while trying to get close to song birds. My free-ranging adult games do not even look up (or actually sideways) when hawk flies between them no more than 18" above ground. The Coopers appear to use the chickens as cover or a distraction that enables closer approach to preferred quarry in the form of cardinals, towhees and mockingbirds.
Kesterels, merlins if you have them, might prevail in a brooder but not with chicks that no longer need supervision by hen.
This time of year I have both species. Distinguishing them has already been covered. In respect to threats a sharp-shinned might threaten unattended chicks but not juveniles or larger. If you are like me and not in the sharp-shinned hawks breeding range then chicks and the hawk are not likely to be at same place at same time. During growing season Coopers Hawks will go after juveniles but not in presence of my defending adult games. Juveniles not defended and that weight 1/3 or less than hunting Coopers hawk will be targetted. During winter months a Coopers hawk will occasionally take an adult chicken but unless chicken is a bantam the hawk can not fliy off with catch. In my situation if hawk must stay on ground to dispatch and feed upon chicken, then it will very likely be attacked by other chickens with serious risk to hawk. For me Coopers hawks are only a serious threat to isolated chickens, even full adult games, or hen only flocks which I no longer maintain. They can take down adult red jungle fowl and the red jungle do not seem to muster a counter attack even when hawk is on ground.
Coopers literally fly within one of my free-ranging flocks almost daily while trying to get close to song birds. My free-ranging adult games do not even look up (or actually sideways) when hawk flies between them no more than 18" above ground. The Coopers appear to use the chickens as cover or a distraction that enables closer approach to preferred quarry in the form of cardinals, towhees and mockingbirds.
Kesterels, merlins if you have them, might prevail in a brooder but not with chicks that no longer need supervision by hen.
