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I live in a community that is named after a certain species of hawk because of the large population that lives here. We see this all the time with many other kinds of birds, but crows are the most belligerent and noisy. It is also true that the hawks can roll over in flight and catch any marauder who foolishly gets too close, injuring them or killing them quickly in flight. One of the lesser known facts is Humming birds have been found with their bills imbedded into a hawk, both dead on the ground. several have been found this way in our area over the years.
Years ago, I saw a giant hawk with a baby crow in its talons. Surrounded by adult crows, the hawk glided slowly in the air, and every crow in the area took turns swooping in for an attack until the hawk couldn't take it any longer and collapsed. Strange to say, but it was a beautiful display of solidarity.
It's not the right time of the year to be protecting a nest, so it could just be territorial.
I see this all the time where we live, and I just assumed it was because there was a nest around. I can see it just being territorial, though. The last time I witnessed it, there were five crows attacking the one hawk.
Crows are smart enough to recognize potential predators. If you think how they harass a hawk is something, you should see them swarm a Great-Horned Owl! Of course, Great-Horned Owls are far greater threats to Crows than are hawks.
(As timberline mentioned, that's one of the best ways to find a Great-Horned Owl.)
Very interesting thread. Why are great horned owls a greater threat to crows than hawks?
Very interesting thread. Why are great horned owls a greater threat to crows than hawks?
Great-Horned Owls are fierce predators and they will actually kill and eat crows. They can even kill prey larger than themselves, so the size of the crow is no problem to them. Great-Horned Owls also hunt at night, so that makes crows especially vulnerable--and wary.
Most hawks, on the other hand, will usually not kill crows, although they might harass them. Those hawks that prey upon other birds (Accipiters) will usually just kill smaller birds.
Hawks eat crows and raid the nests. Crows object to this and given the opportunity will attack the hawks. This fall I saw a bunch of about 10 crows harassing a Red Tailed Hawk. It rested in a tree and then took off and just out accelerated the crows in level flight until it sped away. Beautiful display of sheer power.
Location: Bmore, The cursed land of -> Hotlanta -> Charlotte
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jackmichigan
Great-Horned Owls are fierce predators and they will actually kill and eat crows. They can even kill prey larger than themselves, so the size of the crow is no problem to them. Great-Horned Owls also hunt at night, so that makes crows especially vulnerable--and wary.
Most hawks, on the other hand, will usually not kill crows, although they might harass them. Those hawks that prey upon other birds (Accipiters) will usually just kill smaller birds.
Yeah, us Hawks have some dignity you know. Were not like those Owl brutes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Protege
Years ago, I saw a giant hawk with a baby crow in its talons. Surrounded by adult crows, the hawk glided slowly in the air, and every crow in the area took turns swooping in for an attack until the hawk couldn't take it any longer and collapsed. Strange to say, but it was a beautiful display of solidarity.
Yeah, Crows have no dignity, they are very classless to say the least, they only attack in packs, doesnt sound beautiful to me, of course they will win in packs. Those grimey crows.
This is known as "mobbing". The entire corvid (crows, jays, ravens, rooks, etc) family does it, so do flycatchers, mockingbirds, chickadees, blackbirds, etc.
Oh, those red wing black birds are just mean as he** (with people too). There are plenty of hawks and
falcons and I have seen sparrows do the same thing as the crows.
Although hawks are capable of grabbing a crow, the energy involved for the hawk, usually is not worth it.
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