Some birds sing. Others silently disapprove of your life choices. Hawkward. Very hawkward. Among the bird world’s most skilled pilots, Cooper’s hawks zip through cluttered tree canopies at high speed in pursuit of other birds. They’re often spotted near forest edges or open fields, flying with a few stiff wingbeats followed by a glide. But perhaps their most impressive feature is their expression. Cooper’s hawks have a famously intense, judgmental glare, as though they’ve just reviewed your life choices but just can’t look away. This is thanks to a prominent supraorbital ridge: a bony shelf above each eye that, combined with their forward-facing eyes and boxy, flat-topped heads, gives them a rather tough appearance. It’s an excellent look for a bird that hunts at high speeds. Less ideal if you’re trying to look approachable at a dinner party. Fun fact for dinner party conversation: the Cooper’s hawk was named after William Cooper (1798–1864), an American naturalist and collector w...