Has Anyone Else Noticed Birds Giving an Alarm Signal? After photographing Starlings for several months, I noticed that there can be twenty Starlings scattered across my yard while...

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

After photographing Starlings for several months, I noticed that there can be twenty Starlings scattered across my yard while feeding at any given time. One particular afternoon a Starling, possibly serving as a sentry, gave an alarm and all but one bird frantically scattered in an instant. Then I looked out in the middle of the yard and saw the reason why. The first attached image seems to be that of a Starling serving as a sentry. The second attached image definitely shows the reason they were so frantic to leave. (A sharp-shinned Hawk is showing the result of his kill to anyone who still dares to watch.) Has any other bird watcher on UHH seen other breeds of birds that seem to post sentries as well?

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Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Absolutely! All the time! From quail to finches.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

Crows, every time. There are generally two or three on the ground (usually eating something) and one in a nearby tree, keeping watch. I've always wondered how they choose the sentry who has to sit and watch the others eat? Kind of like the designated driver.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Good catch.

I see this kind of activity often. All the bird species and the squirrels in my area do single and group alerts when any predator does a fly in/fly over/slithers past/walks by. They will even gang up and follow around squawking and raising cain at the predator, even the smallest birds will join in, but the Blue Jays and Mockingbirds really make a show of it! Birds will "alert" off squirrel "alerts calls" and vice versa

They will follow a snake around the yard for as long as 30-40 minutes, hawks are treated the same way, cats too.

I have seen determined birds run off much larger enemies, and have watched momma squirrels actually physically attack hawks, leaping from tree limbs right at the hawk in full attack mode. Hawks and owls win by sneak attack, but run quickly when faced with a danger that could end their flight capabilities, whether they could potentially kill the attacker of not, not worth risking their livelyhood!!

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

During mating season at least, Cardinals always come in with their mates. The male usually stands guard close by and is the lookout, while mom eats. I noticed long ago that all varieties of birds come to my feeders at the same time, and all blast off at the same time if spooked.

It's obvious to me they all are aware that there is safety in numbers. If alone at the feeder, they are target one, the more there are, the less chance they are the target. I think they draw straws to see whole gets to be point. One shows up, then 2 more, then 40 of the suckers. 40 to 1 is way better then 1 to 1 I reckon.

No crows come to my feeders but they hate hawks. When a hawk comes around, the crows will be close behind chasing the sucker. Not sure why the hawks don't just eat the crows, but they obviously are afraid of them. Always a couple of crows, never alone, and the crows out maneuver the buggers in the air.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Shooter41 wrote:

After photographing Starlings for several months, ... (show quote)

Very opportune shooting

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

I've noticed it up here with wild turkeys. One always stands tall, looking around while the others graze.

Male mute swans will also vigilantly defend their designated area of the local lake. When an intruder happens to get too close the male will tuck his wings back in an aggressive posture and steam towards the offender, usually a Canada goose, at high speed until he or she gets the message and flees.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Yes' I've noticed also. It also applies to other animals also.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

fourlocks wrote:

Crows, every time. There are generally two or three on the ground (usually eating something) and one in a nearby tree, keeping watch. I've always wondered how they choose the sentry who has to sit and watch the others eat? Kind of like the designated driver.

Same with the crows in our yard. All sorts of hell started breaking loose the other afternoon, and lo and behold - there was a hawk in our side yard.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

Retired CPO wrote:

Absolutely! All the time! From quail to finches.

Thank you for your comment Retired CPO.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

fourlocks wrote:

Crows, every time. There are generally two or three on the ground (usually eating something) and one in a nearby tree, keeping watch. I've always wondered how they choose the sentry who has to sit and watch the others eat? Kind of like the designated driver.

Thank you "fourlocks" for your specific information about crows in particular.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

olemikey wrote:

Good catch. br br I see this kind of activity o... (show quote)

Thank you "olemikey" for specific information about all species of birds and momma squirrels and Hawks and owls protecting their flight capabilities. (They must sense that losing that ability would result in their starving to death.)

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

BigDaddy wrote:

During mating season at least, Cardinals always co... (show quote)

Thank you "BigDaddy" for refreshing my memory about safety in numbers. I read that Starlings practicing murmuring in the sky, happens because individual Starlings are changing direction to enter the center of the flock, so as to not be on the outside of the group and be vulnerable to attack. So much for staying safe in the middle of the pack.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

joecichjr wrote:

Very opportune shooting

Hi Joe... I gotta make hay when the sun is shining! (When the Sharp Legged Hawk shows up.) Please stay well my friend.

Shooter41 Loc: Wichita, KS

flip1948 wrote:

I've noticed it up here with wild turkeys. One always stands tall, looking around while the others graze.

Male mute swans will also vigilantly defend their designated area of the local lake. When an intruder happens to get too close the male will tuck his wings back in an aggressive posture and steam towards the offender, usually a Canada goose, at high speed until he or she gets the message and flees.

Thank you for specific info about wild turkeys and male mute swans, flip1948.