Kim_Johnson
Why would a crow attack a hawk three times their size? One grab from a hawk would mean toast to a crow, so why do you often see a murder of crows attacking a hawk?
Most researchers say that a murder of crows will protect an area with a nest, eggs, and young. I have witnessed myself things go a bit further. Crows will often protect a favorite tree or field that have no nests as well. I guess they think it is their territory and don’t want the hawks around. Some of you may have read that I have a family of red tailed hawks that like to hang out in the tree outside my back door, and hunt the field below. Their nest is about 1 mile away.
I can always tell when one decides to come by for a visit, as the crows that like the same tree start what the professionals call mobbing. The caw and dive and peck at the hawks, harassing them and it is very loud.
I decided to see if I could get some pictures of them, and that can be debated since the pictures are fuzzy and not focused right. Hopefully I will be able to buy a camera that can take clear images while still being zoomed out. Image the possibilities.
Crows are very fast and agile, while the hawk is very big and powerful. The hawks don’t really care where they are hunting, and its easier to just leave than to take the energy to grab a crow. The crows seem to know this.
Crows will not bother a hawk near its nesting area as they will kill the crow to protect the young.
Anyway, here are the pictures I tried to take.
In the one below the hawk has just noticed me as she looks straight at me.
By now she has three crows harassing her or mobbing her. Two above her and one below. She is trying to ignore them.
As she looks up at one of the crows. The crows are higher than the frame can show.
Now there are five crows.. numbers are growing.. They are starting to surround her on all sides.
She is still not overly worried as she looks at another down below her..
They are starting to move closer.. ?There are actually three crows in this but only one can be seen well. The others are behind the branches.
Three of the crows moved in and started pecking her back and flying back to land on the branches just feet away.
And she has had enough and flies away.
Isn’t it odd how a smaller bird can pester a predatory bird until it just gives up..
The photos are great, and I love the way we learn with your posts.
So many interesting things around this old world, its easy to do. Thank you.
Wow, wonderfully captured!
Thank you Ellie, glad you liked them.
I read this interesting article. I wondered why they did that. I found the answer: because the flock provides relatively good protection for the individual bird and rises together with shouting against the attacker. The pictures are unique.
bg.wikipedia.org
True, safety in numbers. Thank you Elenka!
Great pictures @kim, I like both birds but I prefer hawk 🙂
I do too, but each are really cool birds.
This is a great interesting story with many of great photos so more please
Thank you LaJenna! Glad you liked them!
very good photo awesome love hawk
Thank you Jasmine, I love them as well. They are my favorite bird of all times.
Nice pictures, Kim, and I enjoyed reading your articles? 🙂
Thank you for your appreciation, means a lot to me.
So glad she decided to fly and your shots are amazing!
Too many pecks on the back. Thank you Carol.
Very interesting Kim-I read with great interest-really interesting
Thank you sir! So many times I have wondered why the hawks just put up with the mobbing, I thought others might be interested as well.
In part because the crow knows the larger bird won’t actually argue or fight for a meal, there are plenty of easy pickings out there…
Exactly, you are correct. A hawk would rather just move elsewhere, no bother.