Why do smaller birds seem to chase hawks ?

Question

I really enjoy watching red tail hawks in my area but Ive noticed smaller birds seem to bother them or is it the other way around ?

Answer 1

All birds will band together to drive off predatory birds in the area....doesnt matter what kind, falcon, hawk, owl, raven.... many birds understand all to well what they are after and make concentrated attempts to drive the raptors away. I have seen a dozen barn swallows chase away a large falcon, I have seen grackles chase away ravens and harrier hawks, and I have seen tiny finches chase away Kestrels. It doesnt matter what size of predatory bird, if there are enough smaller birds they can band together and drive off the predatory bird.... The reason they do this is to protect thier nests, thier young, and themselves. A hunting predator can not hunt when every prey animal knows where it is because it is surrounded by a flock of screeching birds, even birds of differing species will work together to drive birds of prey away. It is a very useful survival technique and it helps birds to survive by driving predators away.

Answer 2

Chase Hawks

Answer 3

Red tailed hawks are predators, and can be nest predators as well. Smaller birds don't want them around their territories or babies so they chase them away. You will often see crows mobbing Red-tailed Hawks. The hawks usually don't retaliate, even though they are quite capable of doing some damage. Many times lots small birds will gang up on them.

Answer 4

Good question. I used to have a nesting pair in my back yard and it was nice to see them fly over in formation.

Red tails are large enough that they are not very maneuverable and are not capable of catching smaller birds in the air. So, smaller birds will harass them to drive them away. This happens to other birds as well like crows and owls. A smaller more maneuverable bird like a falcon or a sharp shin hawk would not be harassed because it is a direct threat. Sharp shins are fully capable of catching a smaller bird on the wing. Small birds do this same behavior with cats as very few cats can catch birds in flight.

Answer 5

Ah, yes, the mockingbirds regularly harass the Harris hawks living in our neighborhood. They also harass our cats and dogs, and sometimes us humans too. They generally engage in this behavior the most during nesting season (springtime)...indeed, they are attempting to distract predators from their nests. I've also noticed that the mockingbirds imitate the call of the hawks (though it's not nearly as impressive as the hawks)...funny stuff. The hawks seem completely helpless to the harrassment...they just put up with it or fly away.

Answer 6

Perhaps the smaller birds have smaller brains and don't realize that a hawk could tear them to shreds if it really wanted to. Of course, they might be faster too, so who knows. Soem species of birds are invasive and aggressive against other species (starlings?).

Answer 7

They are chasing the hawk away trying to protect their offspring.

Answer 8

small birds gang up on them to keep them away from the baby birds in nests

Answer 9

More than likely, they're Mockingbirds, which have a naturally quick temper and are very territorial.

Answer 10

They are trying to lure them away from their nests.