Questions on Hawk behavior if anyone knows

Ever since putting up feeders about 18 months ago, a single hawk has patrolled our backyard area. His MO is to swoop in while the feeders are full in hopes of catching a scattering bird here and there. Not very successful, but you knew when he made an attempt because I didn't see a bird around the feeder for hours after an incident. Here's the hawk--I think it's a Cooper's. He's sitting about 20' from one of the feeders after an unsuccessful attempt at the birds.

You are right on both counts for ID. Birds, like everything else birds have to be smart to survive, although a lot of it is pure instinct. But, they know a Falcon or Accipiter (both know bird eaters) when they see one. They have tested this many times with bird of prey silhouettes, they know the birds my shape when flying, And as for the Doves, they are just skittish.
The coopers hawk probably just moved on or died and the red shoulder moved in. A coops is a lot more aggressive and would have chased the red shoulder off.

Interesting. Thanks for responding, Tom. Appreciate your insights.

dave

I have heard that Cooper's Hawks are much more aggressive and will easily scare birds away as they come swooping in looking for a straggler that they can pick-off. They also prowl several areas and go from back yard to back yard to wooded area, looking for pray. The red shoulder and red tail are more of a sit in the branches and bide their time bird, waiting for the right moment to snap up their meal. Since they are a little more stealthy that Cooper's Hawks, they don't scare other birds away as easily.

Very interesting and nice shots.

Is it just me or does it look like there is vertical banding in the bokeh of the first pic?

Nice shots Dave, I guess I have pretty much the same situation here.... almost. Your first shot, the Coopers and the second the Red Shouldered are both here and hunt the back yard every day. The next few times you see the larger of the two, really look around in the trees or bushes, here the Coopers is almost always there some where. This past weekend I saw the Coopers come in and shortly after came in big Momma, the smaller Coopers was actually talking so to speak, but it sounded like a whimper to the larger who was up high in the trees, but the Red Shouldered is the boss no doubt about it. I guess they know who is who at least in my backyard. Now about the feeders, the Red Shoulder many times has been sitting directly above the feeders maybe 20' up all the while, all the little guys were feeding away, maybe 20+ Cardinals and all the others as well. Having said that, when the Red Shoulder comes in to hunt, there (at least here) is no warning, noise or anything, they come out of no where and take a stab at what ever little buddie they can get, but almost always, some where close by just seconds before they come in for a try a small bird always close by is on guard and makes a real quick 3 chirp sound and every one hauls butt into the bamboo, scares the crap out of everyone, me included. I watched one day as the big gal (thanks Tom) came in and turned sideways, flexing her claws at birds on a feeder, missed her hit, then righted herself, flapped wings and was gone, all inabout 3 seconds, all the while my hand was on the shutter, I was so fixated on the Hawk, I just sat there, awesome stuff to watch. So anyhow after all this babbling, just keep your eyes real sharp, both those guys will take a shot at some lunch or dinner, they are always in the neighborhood, but in this case size does matter. There are very few things that will get ones blood rushing like one of those big guys coming in for a bite to eat. They are usually not succesful. The Red Shouldered are much more cautious than the Coopers and are just now getting used to me, but will fly away if they are low in the trees, the Coopers will let me shoot them in the open most times and not fly away.
They are both great to watch but it is amazing (I still think that birds in general are much more intelligent than we smart humans give them credit for), when they are not hunting, the little guys know it and will indeed feed while the Hawks are very close by, when they are on the hunt it is very fast and surprises all, me included. The episode that I mentioned earlier with the Coopers and the Red Shouldered, with the Coopers did almost sound like it was begging for a shot at the piece of meat that I had out for them to eat, the Red Shouldered never made a sound but thru the view finder I could see it in his eyes, like a warning not to go get that red meat. they like red meat. Good luck to you and your Hawks, beautiful amazing spirits!!!

I have had a few interactions in the forest with a few different hawks and small birds. I have a flock of Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches that follow me around in the woods and eat hulled sunflower seeds out of my hand. I can always tell when there is a predator around, be it an owl, shrike, hawk, Pine Martin or Fisher... they pretty much go "nuts" and begin a robotic chirping. They have found many owls & Pine Martins for me to photograph.
What I have noticed about hawks is what you described... the larger the hawk the more they discount his presence. When a Cooper's or Sharpie enters the area they really get riled, but if a Broad-winged Hawk flies over, they pay no attention. They seem to have more fear or disdain of the Northern Shrike than the hawks.

I have had Cooper's, Sharpies & a Northern Goshawk dive and try to take them off my hand. I photograph in the woods and brush and one Cooper's dove and slammed into the brush... I had the Northern Goshawk dive and hit a dead spruce, he flew up into a birch and I got an interesting photo of him regaining his senses.... the bottom line seems to be, they know "who hunts who."

I feel sorry for the owls, I once followed a number of chickadees that perched around and above a Boreal Owl... before long, they had Rb Nuthatches, Blue Jays hassling the poor sleepy owl...

db

jase1125 wrote in post #11565796
Very interesting and nice shots.

Is it just me or does it look like there is vertical banding in the bokeh of the first pic?

You have a good eye! Those were taken through the deck doors. Just to my right is another bank of windows across the back of my house that face due east. The light from the windows to my right stream through the deck doors at an angle to produce the reflection banding you picked up on!

Thanks for the kind words on the shots, too. The red shouldered hawk and I were both outdoors making it a bit cleaner. Big crop, though.

dave

BGgraphy wrote in post #11566316
Nice shots Dave, I guess I have pretty much the same situation here.... almost. Your first shot, the Coopers and the second the Red Shouldered are both here and hunt the back yard every day. The next few times you see the larger of the two, really look around in the trees or bushes, here the Coopers is almost always there some where.

Cool story, thanks for sharing. And to make matters even more interesting, today, the red shouldered hawk was run off by an even larger red tail! He hung around awhile, got bored and left around 4pm. Haven't seen the red shouldered back yet. We'll see tomorrow.

Just behind my lot is a retention basin from the alotment just east of my 'hood. Now that the snow has melted, I'm sure the hunting is a bit easier on the birds of prey. Could be why I've seen more activity from the 'big guns!'

dave

dbriz wrote in post #11567122
I have had a few interactions in the forest with a few different hawks and small birds. I have a flock of Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches that follow me around in the woods and eat hulled sunflower seeds out of my hand. I can always tell when there is a predator around, be it an owl, shrike, hawk, Pine Martin or Fisher... they pretty much go "nuts" and begin a robotic chirping. They have found many owls & Pine Martins for me to photograph.
What I have noticed about hawks is what you described... the larger the hawk the more they discount his presence. When a Cooper's or Sharpie enters the area they really get riled, but if a Broad-winged Hawk flies over, they pay no attention. They seem to have more fear or disdain of the Northern Shrike than the hawks.

I have had Cooper's, Sharpies & a Northern Goshawk dive and try to take them off my hand. I photograph in the woods and brush and one Cooper's dove and slammed into the brush... I had the Northern Goshawk dive and hit a dead spruce, he flew up into a birch and I got an interesting photo of him regaining his senses.... the bottom line seems to be, they know "who hunts who."

I feel sorry for the owls, I once followed a number of chickadees that perched around and above a Boreal Owl... before long, they had Rb Nuthatches, Blue Jays hassling the poor sleepy owl...

db

Wow on the hawks trying to take the small guys right off your hand! I think you're right about knowing who will eat you and who won't!

dave

Anderson-Photography wrote in post #11565111
I have heard that Cooper's Hawks are much more aggressive and will easily scare birds away as they come swooping in looking for a straggler that they can pick-off. They also prowl several areas and go from back yard to back yard to wooded area, looking for pray. The red shoulder and red tail are more of a sit in the branches and bide their time bird, waiting for the right moment to snap up their meal. Since they are a little more stealthy that Cooper's Hawks, they don't scare other birds away as easily.

that's exactly what I see. The Cooper is more the 'numbers' hunter and the red shoulder is really patient. I've seen him sit for 20-30 minutes on the same low branch scanning all directions for that high-probability attempt at lunch.

dave

When they do swoop in it is really cool....