June 14, 2013 - Blackbird hitches a ride on a Hawk

Adak · 06-16-2013, 08:04 AM

At nesting time, red-winged blackbirds are VERY territorial and will attack anything or anyone, who gets too close to their nest. They've buzzed me many times as I was crossing a field.

As they start pecking on the hawk, (Cooper's hawk here, perhaps), the hawk will do a roll to knock them loose, at which time the blackbird better not be found near the hawks talons. (They nearly always avoid them easily).

This is repeated until the hawk is out of their territory.

06-16-2013, 08:04 AM	#6
Adak Lecturer Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 796	At nesting time, red-winged blackbirds are VERY territorial and will attack anything or anyone, who gets too close to their nest. They've buzzed me many times as I was crossing a field. As they start pecking on the hawk, (Cooper's hawk here, perhaps), the hawk will do a roll to knock them loose, at which time the blackbird better not be found near the hawks talons. (They nearly always avoid them easily). This is repeated until the hawk is out of their territory.

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