Ken Nielsen Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 I was taking pictures of an Eagle pair in a tree today, not near their own nest but out and about hunting I suspect. All of a sudden a sparrow came close and started 'hovering' nearby. Then the sparrow started flying right into the Eagle pair and the Eagles decided to leave. In this picture, the sparrow is flying right past the Eagle's head. After this picture the Sparrow stayed with the top Eagle for quite a distance as they two flew away. Taken today, January 21st at Southwest Washington State at the Ridgefield Wildlife Preserve. Does anyone have any comment or idea of what goes on with this behavior? The Sparrow was not attacking but I don't really know what was going on... Thanks for any insight into this behavior... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigOly Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 I wish that I had my camera with me the day I saw a hummingbird chasing a turkey Vulture across my yard here on the Oregon Coast. Lots of birds , big and small chase each other. Nice photo you have there. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 1 hour ago, BigOly said: I wish that I had my camera with me the day I saw a hummingbird chasing a turkey Vulture across my yard here on the Oregon Coast. Lots of birds , big and small chase each other. Nice photo you have there. Okay, I was suspecting... Both Eagles in a pair took off when the sparrow started hovering and then getting closer... like it was bugging them, just being a pest. Even after the Eagle takes off the sparrow continues to 'be a part of' what is going on... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Birds often attempt to drive off potential threats, including larger birds. Sometimes individual birds will do it, often smaller birds will 'mob' a larger one. It's quite common during breeding, when the smaller bird is defending the territory around its nest. Does anyone else think the smaller bird is something other than a sparrow? @Ken Nielsen, did you get a better look at it than what these photos show us? 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 7 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Birds often attempt to drive off potential threats, including larger birds. Sometimes individual birds will do it, often smaller birds will 'mob' a larger one. It's quite common during breeding, when the smaller bird is defending the territory around its nest. Does anyone else think the smaller bird is something other than a sparrow? @Ken Nielsen, did you get a better look at it than what these photos show us? The small bird gives me the impression of a Yellow-rump. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 (edited) 10 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: Birds often attempt to drive off potential threats, including larger birds. Sometimes individual birds will do it, often smaller birds will 'mob' a larger one. It's quite common during breeding, when the smaller bird is defending the territory around its nest. Does anyone else think the smaller bird is something other than a sparrow? @Ken Nielsen, did you get a better look at it than what these photos show us? Yes, I will post a better picture, not perfect, but better than the small shown here... Edited January 22 by Ken Nielsen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 One more of the little guy... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 2 hours ago, Aidan B said: The small bird gives me the impression of a Yellow-rump. You da man! 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 (edited) One more of little bird then 'Yellow-rump' it is... Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler is what I find in this range, southwestern Washington in the winter. Edited January 22 by Ken Nielsen Added details... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 The Eagles are driven off to parts unknown, all because of the heroic defending of family by the little Yellow-rumped Warbler... Good job! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 31 minutes ago, Ken Nielsen said: heroic defending of family by the little Yellow-rumped Warbler While defending the family is ONE reason smaller birds strafe larger ones, it isn't the only one. I think Yellow-rumpeds don't start breeding for several weeks yet. I could have been trying to run off a potential threat in self-defense. Nice shot of the tactical retreat! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 8 hours ago, Aidan B said: The small bird gives me the impression of a Yellow-rump. Same. 5 hours ago, Ken Nielsen said: One more of little bird then 'Yellow-rump' it is... Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler is what I find in this range, southwestern Washington in the winter. Yes, yellow rumped warbler. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Nielsen Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 On 1/22/2022 at 2:20 PM, Charlie Spencer said: While defending the family is ONE reason smaller birds strafe larger ones, it isn't the only one. I think Yellow-rumpeds don't start breeding for several weeks yet. I could have been trying to run off a potential threat in self-defense. Nice shot of the tactical retreat! Thanks for filling in on the other 'more possible' reason for the 'strafe' and learning a new word there also. Good group. Thank You! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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