Wagner Free Science Institute

Kevin Zhang

12/7/2011

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The Cooper’s Hawk and the Wagner Free Science Institute

The object that I chose was the Cooper’s Hawk, a common medium-sized hawk native to North America and found across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The hawk is stuffed and mounted on a log. One of its claws is perched on a branch, while the other grips a young bird (as prey). The mounted hawk is in a display case with other birds of prey such as owls and eagles. The sign below the hawk gives a brief description of the animal, age (adult), gender (male), species name (Accipiter cooperii), location (Salem County, New Jersey) and the naturalist who first identified the species (Bonaparte).

The taxidermist who prepared the Cooper's Hawk specimen wanted to illustrate the characteristics that separated the hawk from other birds. It’s prepared with prey to indicate that the hawk is a carnivorous predator that preys on juvenile birds. Additionally, the specimen is turned so that the hooked beak is facing the viewer. The hawk’s large eyes, widespread wings and prominent talons are prominently displayed, indicating that the Cooper’s Hawk is a maneuverable flier, is visually acute, and is equipped with talons to kill prey.

Charles Lucien Bonaparte was a French naturalist first identified the species in 1828 on an ornithology expedition of the United States. He named the hawk after William Cooper, a collector, mollusk expert, and one of the founders of New York Academy of Science. Bonaparte classified the hawk as A. cooperii in the Order Falconiformes (diurnal birds of prey) and Family Accipitridae (predators with hooked bills). The taxonomy of A. cooperii remains unchanged since 1828.

Collecting, classifying and preserving species such as A. cooperii was important to William Wagner who pursued scientific study as hobby, and Joseph Leidy, an American paleontologist and anatomist. During the 18th century, government and institutional funding was uncommon and gentleman...