zbird 15 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Saw this hawk a couple weeks ago in central KY. There's a hawk that's been swooping around under our deck and eyeing the birds at the feeder, but I don't know if this is the same one. Help! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 1,390 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 This is a Red-tailed Hawk. This probably is not the same one looking at your feeder birds. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Birding Boy 2,392 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 (edited) Looks like a young Red-tailed Hawk, with that thinly barred tail, bulky structure, and white "V" made out of the back feathers. Edit. Sniped again. Wow, Im getting really slow on the draw here. Edited January 1 by Birding Boy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zbird 15 Posted January 1 Author Share Posted January 1 Oh no, another hawk! I guess purple martin gourds in the spring might not be the best idea 😰 Thank you! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aaron 840 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Red-tails are more mammal specialists, and doubt they’re agile/fast enough to be a threat to the martins. So I think you’re good in that regard. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 1,390 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 2 minutes ago, zbird said: Oh no, another hawk! I guess purple martin gourds in the spring might not be the best idea 😰 Thank you! Red-taileds don’t usually hunt birds. They go after mammals and reptiles, mainly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zbird 15 Posted January 1 Author Share Posted January 1 That's a relief! Do you think this RTHA might be the same bird that came swooping under the deck? We have a bird feeder hung on a window under our deck that siskins and finches will eat from, but we kind of thought it might be a Cooper's Hawk bothering those birds, especially if Red-Tailed Hawks don't go after birds very often. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 1,390 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 9 minutes ago, zbird said: That's a relief! Do you think this RTHA might be the same bird that came swooping under the deck? No. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 1,390 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 10 minutes ago, zbird said: We have a bird feeder hung on a window under our deck that siskins and finches will eat from, but we kind of thought it might be a Cooper's Hawk bothering those birds, especially if Red-Tailed Hawks don't go after birds very often. You’re right. Cooper’s won’t think twice about doing that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zbird 15 Posted January 1 Author Share Posted January 1 I don't guess there's anything we can do to keep hawks away from the bird feeders, is there? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aaron 840 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Hawks have to eat too! You can provide brush piles for refuge and place feeders in more protected areas/closer to vegetation and things like that. But if the hawk wants to be there, he’s gonna be there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Bird Nuts 5,222 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 3 minutes ago, zbird said: I don't guess there's anything we can do to keep hawks away from the bird feeders, is there? If it is visiting daily and becoming a big problem, then you can try taking down the feeders for a little while and hope the hawk decides to hunt elsewhere. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 1,390 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 (edited) 7 minutes ago, zbird said: I don't guess there's anything we can do to keep hawks away from the bird feeders, is there? You could try taking the feeder down for a little while and seeing if it moves on. EDIT- sniped by the person who was saying the exact same thing! Edited January 1 by Seanbirds Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chipperatl 695 Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 Red-tails will take Mourning Doves. Â If those are hanging around your feeder, it could be same bird. Â Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IKLland 1,314 Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 4 hours ago, chipperatl said: Red-tails will take Mourning Doves. Â If those are hanging around your feeder, it could be same bird. Â wow!! i dont like mourning doves!! and of course they are at my feeders... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zbird 15 Posted January 2 Author Share Posted January 2 Ahh hawks! Like you said, a hawk's gonna do what a hawk's gonna do. Thanks for the advice everyone! At least if there are hawks hanging around, I might get some cool pictures of them... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 3,822 Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 10 hours ago, IKLland said: wow!! i dont like mourning doves!! and of course they are at my feeders... Why not? They can show some interesting behaviors. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IKLland 1,314 Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 7 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Why not? They can show some interesting behaviors.  I know, well. Guess I don’t hate them, they are just not my favs... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.