PRODUCTIVITY AND NESTING CHRONOLOGY OF THE COOPERS-HAWK AND SHARP-SHINNED HAWK IN MISSOURI

Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) and Cooper's hawk (A. cooperii) nests were studied in Missouri during 1985 and 1986 to determine productivity and nesting chronology. The nesting season for Sharp-shinned hawks extended from May to August, with most young fledging by August. The Cooper's hawk nesting season extended from May to july. Mean dutch size and number-of young reaching banding age (greater-than-or-equal-to 14 days) per successful nest for Sharp-shinned hawks were 4.5 (N = 8) and 3.2 (N = 5), respectively. Mean clutch size and number of young per successful nest for Cooper's hawk were 3.8 (N = 12) and 3.5 (N = 20). No differences were detected (P greater-than-or-equal-to 0.73) in clutch size, brood size, or number of young per successful nest for Cooper's hawk in pine (Pinus spp.) versus oak-hickory (Quercus spp.-Carya spp.) hardwood habitats.