Urban Cooper’s hawks outcompete their rural neighbors

Depending on whether a species flourishes in a city environment, urban wildlife populations can be “sources” or “sinks,” either reproducing so quickly that individuals leave to colonize the surrounding area or needing constant immigration from outside to stay viable. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications examines the population dynamics of Cooper’s Hawks in urban Albuquerque, New Mexico, and finds that city-born birds aren’t just thriving—they’re actually forcing their rural neighbors out of their nest sites.