Darter
Coopers Hawk
Accipiter cooperii

One breezy, spring day in 2003, a young fledgling Coopers Hawk decided to try his wings, probably for the first time. This inexperienced bird crash-landed and fractured his left wing near the "elbow." As is often typical with this type of injury, the bones did not heal properly causing the wing to "freeze" at the joint.

At approximately 8 weeks of age, Darter was transferred to The Avian Reconditioning Center for a thorough assessment of his flight abilities. After extensive flight evaluation, ARC's staff falconer determined the injury was permanent. Even with physical therapy, Darter would never regain full movement of his left wing and would, therefore, be incapable of normal flight. Lacking the important flying skills necessary to survive in the wild, Darter would remain at the ARC and join the other resident hawks and owls who act as education ambassadors.

Coopers Hawks are members of the accipiter family and, unlike their relatives (Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks) in the buteo "soaring hawk" family, are built for speed and agility which allows them to capture and prey on songbirds. By nature, accipiters are much higher-strung and more difficult to work with in terms of falconry training.

Fortunately, ARC's staff falconer has extensive experience working with this quick, acrobatic species. After several months of patient training, Darter has become a wonderful addition to ARC's family of education birds.

Typical of an immature Coopers Hawk, Darter's eyes are blue in this picture. As he ages, his eyes will become yellow and then change to red as a mature adult. A few wisps of soft, gray downy feathers are still visible on the crown of his head. Although the downy feathers were soon molted, full adult plumage will not be achieved until 2 years of age.

When not "working" in education programs, Darter spends his days in a large "mew" where he enjoys basking in the morning sun and bounding from perch to perch for exercise. Darter was named to honor the mascot of the high school in our small town of Apopka (Home of the Blue Darter) where the ARC is located.

    Darter can be sponsored through the Adopt-a-Bird program.
    Call 407-461-1056 or e-mail info@adoptabird.org for details
    on how you can make Darter a part of your family!

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...or click on the link below to place your adoption on-line!