jmdenver Loc: Colorado

A pair of nesting hawks has taken up residence in a tall spruce tree on campus. The female is on the nest and the male frequently stands guard in the top of an adjacent tree. This morning he was sitting there minding his own business, not bothering a soul, not even the rabbits and squirrels below. He was spending his time preening and scratching when out of nowhere several crows made a coordinated attack upon him. After a bit of blustering on his part, the hawk took off, but the crows continued to harass him. The crows routinely harass him in flight, but this is the first time I have seen them attack him while he was stationary. Despite a lot of bluster and showing of talons, it didn't appear the crows inflicted any harm, and the hawk didn't have much success either. Ultimately, he flew off unscathed. No harm, no "fowl."

Does anyone know what type of hawk this is? They have been returning to this same nest for at least the past 5 years.

He's a great hunter. He has put a serious dent in the rabbit population on campus.

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mas24 Loc: Southern CA

The feud between the crows and hawk was probably a territorial dispute or they thought eggs for food was in the nest. Crows are very intelligent birds and are fierce in numbers, unafraid of any single hawk, despite its talons. Those were some fantastic shots you took of that engagement and individual hawk. Crows are plenty in my surrounding area.

anotherview Loc: California

In my experience, hawks and eagles always win out over the crows. You have to see to believe one hawk appearing overhead of 100 crows and scattering them all.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

100 crows?

Doddy Loc: Barnard Castle-England

Great series of shots..well done.

jmdenver Loc: Colorado

Thanks for looking, mas24. I appreciate the info.

jmdenver Loc: Colorado

Thanks Doddy. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

anotherview Loc: California

Yes, 100 crows, and perhaps more. I witnessed this event. Nearby, a hawk from above struck a bird perched on a wire. A thin cloud of feathers resulted from the impact. The hawk with the bird clutched in its claws descended to the ground, with the bird shrieking. Thereupon, the hawk pecked out the spine of the bird at its neck, to kill and silence it. For about ten seconds, if that, the hawk looked around it. Then the hawk took flight with the dead bird. A few crows followed the hawk, diving at it, as it made its way to an oak tree at the edge of the forest. The shriek of the bird must've attracted the crows. The hawk perched in the tree while the crows, one after another, took turns diving at it. In a matter of minutes, crows assembled above, flying in a spiral eventually several hundred feet in height. Crows in the lower part of the spiral flew into the trees to harass the hawk. I believe the crows meant for the hawk to drop its dead prey for the crows to eat. Whatever the motive, the crows organized themselves for harassing the hawk. This attack lasted several minutes. I'd never seen anything like it. All of a sudden the crows in the spiral began scattering in all directions. Above this dispersal I spotted a lone hawk. Obviously, the crows feared the hawk would dive into their assembly to kill one of them. The attack on the hawk in the tree immediately ended.

jmdenver Loc: Colorado

Wow, what a sight! Mine account was only 4 on 1.

orriebarber Loc: Stratford CT.

Great shots. Looks like a Red Trail.

jmdenver Loc: Colorado

I appreciate the look. Thanks for the ID.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

Excellent shots, jmdenver!