I could give you the hawk’s name, but names change. This one’s gonna change. You could look it up. Or see the footnote below. For now, let’s go with “Wingman.”
It fits for a big—and I mean big—rusty-brown hawk that flew alongside my car yesterday. Just him and me. Wingtips inches from my window as we sped side-by-side.
I’ve seen eagles—Bald and Golden—and Ospreys. I’m no newcomer to raptor heavyweights. But this close-up partnership was a new trip. We were on a quiet street, no sidewalks, lotsa wildlife. Squirrels, rabbits, and when you walk the dog at night you watch for skunks.
What happened yesterday afternoon is that this big hawk must have just found fresh roadkill or maybe he caught a bird. We’ve had flocks of fall robins and Cedar Waxwings. Lots of opportunity here for a suburban hunter.
He was on the street as I drove up behind him, interrupting lunch. He said “shit,” and took to the air with an angry flap of wide wings, then leveled off outside of my driver’s side window as I drove, near enough to touch.
We flew that way for a block. When we reached the T-bone intersection, he climbed quickly and grabbed the lowest branch of an old tree there. He glowered back at me. I said, I can relate, man. When I’m eating I also don’t like to be hassled.
But I was happy to have had that wild warplane of a bird just outside my window. Whatever the name of this guy is or will be—he’s “Wingman” around here.
* The American Ornithological Society announced that it will rename 70–80 bird species, including the Cooper’s hawk, starting in 2024. The Cooper’s hawk was named after William Cooper, a 19th-century naturalist. Its scientific name, Accipiter cooperii, also honors Cooper. We’re waiting to see what the new name will be. For today, it’s “Wingman.”
Great story.
Why change the name of a bird that had the same name for 100 years, don’t get it.
Does this mean that all birds with proper names will have their names changed. I see Cooper Hawks all the time and yell. “Hi Cooper Hawk, the Cooper Hawk turns its head 180° glares at me as to say ‘thanks for recognizing me.’
In the future when I call out “hi Cooper Hawk”…it won’t respond… It has a new name.
What happens when the authorities decide, I should have a new name!
Cool experience! I once had a turkey vulture do the same thing, luckily at the passenger side window. Now that’s a big raptor!
Personally I’m not looking forward to having to relearn the names of 80 or more species. Of all the dumb, unnecessary bureaucratic ideas….
I heard a rumor that the American Ornithological Society was also gonna change Larry Bird, Robin Roberts and Hawk Harrelson’s name too. Can the Eagles be far behind?
I second the vote