These birds haven’t successfully nested yet, and no one knows for sure what the problem is. I’ve heard that the DNR may be planning to put up a nesting platform on a building at the Medical Center to help.

Several pairs of Cooper’s Hawks do nest in the city (something that has only occurred in the last thirty years or so). I think there is nest in Eberwhite Woods, among other places. These hawks also prey mainly on birds, but they are ambushers that hunt from cover. They do eat pigeons (and starlings, mourning doves, and other medium-sized birds), but probably don’t go after flocks of pigeons in the open. These hawks are built for more maneuverability and less speed.

Red-tailed Hawks are found around the city too, there has been a nest in the Arb for years. They are generalists that mainly attack prey on the ground. In our area they probably take mostly rabbit and rodents (mice, voles, young woodchucks, maybe tree squirrels).

It’s hard to tell with the high contrast, but based on the tail, looks too long for it to be a Red-tailed. I want to believe it’s a Cooper’s Hawk, but it’s hard to say. I’ve seen them around town near the Y and on campus. Here is an equally inconclusive photograph: link

Cooper’s Hawk [link]