30 and 31 January 2018 and 01 February
For the third day in a row a Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) has been spotted in our back yard and on all three days it has captured an American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), a species routinely numbering around thirty at our feeders.
Cooper's Hawk, like all accipiters, is a master of aerial pursuit and this individual has honed his skills well; I say "his" believing the bird to be a male since it is fairly small.
On 30 January, having captured his prey he took it to a tree in a neighbour's yard to pluck and consume it.
Yesterday, when we first saw the bird, he had already captured the goldfinch and was on our fence tearing feathers out at a furious pace, in preparation for the feast.
The following series of images captured by Miriam need no further commentary.
Today, I noticed that all was quiet outside, with nary a bird in sight and discovered the hawk with its prey perched on a branch on top of one of the feeders. I had to leave for a dentist's appointment but Miriam took more pictures.
After taking a series of pictures she busied herself with other chores and returned to the window after a while to see the Cooper's Hawk completing its toilette after consuming its prey - wiping its bill on a branch and getting rid of a couple of feathers that had become attached. She was astounded to see that the goldfinches had returned to the feeders and were apparently unconcerned at the continuing presence of the predator. It was a fatal mistake for one of them because the hawk suddenly took off from the branch like a bullet and captured another goldfinch from a feeder. Rather than stopping to feed on this one it flew away with the passerine in its talons.
Not only do our bird feeders create an ideal hunting situation for the Cooper's Hawk, no doubt the captured goldfinches are fat and nutritious given the daily access they have to nutrient-rich sunflower seeds.
We are happy to have the opportunity to observe this predator/prey relationship at close hand and look forward to seeing this raptor at work again.
Footnote added 02 February: The hawk is back again today and made a failed pass at an American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) following which it nailed another goldfinch. The more I examine this bird the more convinced I become that it is a Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus), a species notoriously similar to a Cooper's Hawk, with much overlap in biometrics, especially as it relates to male Cooper's and female Sharp-shinned.
Hello, love all the Goldfinches, I rarely see them here. Looks like the hawk had a great opportunity for dinner, poor Goldfinch. Enjoy your day and weekend!
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about the eating habits of birds. How many goldfinch-sized birds would such a hawk need to eat in a week?
ReplyDeleteAround 21 goldfinch sized birds a week, but they often capture bigger species, even rodents and squirrels.
DeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteThe cycle of life and death and Nature's ways; all through your window!!! YAM xx
That describes it perfectly, YAM.
DeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of the Hawk, but sad for the Goldfinches. A real drama!
I suspect others will echo your comment, Marit. I always find it a little curious that no one seems to feel sorry for the worm eaten by the robin, or the rat eaten by the owl, or the frog eaten by a heron - or for that matter for the oyster on our plate. The goldfinch is cute and that seems to make the difference.
DeleteFantastic to see a Cooper's Hawk, hard work for him.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the brutal reality of nature. There is a song that I love by Seals n Croft called Waylan and the White Rabbit..while walking Waylan finds a rabbit who had frozen, and he asked God why have you forsaken this rabbit, and the answer he received was the Owl would not have been so kind.
ReplyDeleteNice for you, bad for the goldfinches..............
ReplyDeleteWe have been noticing a few birds with eye disease (conjuctivitis?) and maybe these are the birds that are falling victim to the hawk.
DeleteWhat perfect timing for some of your photos today. I could watch animals interactions for hours.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting to watch.
ReplyDeleteFascinating.
ReplyDeleteHello David!
ReplyDeleteGreat captures!
The Cooper Hawk is very impressive bird!
Poor Goldfinches!
Have a happy February!
Dimi...
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteIt is always interesting to observe a predator consuming its prey. You must feel quite lucky to have had the chance to have such a visitor in your garden. Once an Eurasian sparrowhawk visited our garden to catch a Eurasian collared dove, fascinating.
This is the real harsh life, but very much worth to look at. Great pictures!
Greetings, Kees
Hi David.
ReplyDeleteWonderful David the bird of prey with his food
Beautiful pictures.
Groettie from Patricia.
The circle of life, what a great vantage point you have. Stunning!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, the Hawk is very much like the Sparrowhawk I get in my garden on occasion. The perils of having garden feeders!
ReplyDeleteI don't consider it a peril, Pam. We are feeding birds, some of which just happen to be hawks.
DeleteHello David and Miriam, I do hope the Cooper Hawk will leave you with some of the Goldfinches. But it is Always facinating to watch this bird and making the most of the oppertunaties that are offert. Grate captures!
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Roos
Hola David y hola Miriam. Espectaculares fotos, que bonito este halcón, las pequeñas aves tiene que andarse con ojo para que no se las coma. Enhorabuena a los dos. Besos y abrazos.
ReplyDeleteHi David. Full marks to both Miriam and the hawk for the accuracy of their aim. I didn't realise Coopers could look so red beneath. Is this age related?
ReplyDeleteThis is fairly typical plumage of an adult bird, Phil.
DeleteWhat a great series of you both! Very well captured and, imho, a pleasure to see this bird in your own garden. And since live is about eating or to be eated I can imagine he or she likes the taste of an American goldfinch in this type of weather.
ReplyDeleteVery nice!
Have a nice weekend,
Marianne
I love birds of prey but I wish they would go for rodents in preference to small birds. I guess though when they discover birds at a feeder it is easy dinner for them :-( Have a good weekend Diane
ReplyDeleteAccipiters specialize in feeding on other birds, Diane. They will take rodents, but birds form the greatest part of their diet.
DeleteStunning shots David,love the colours of the Cooper's Hawk plumage.
ReplyDeleteWell done Miriam.
Hi David,
ReplyDeletemarvellous to have nature so close to your doorstep!
Marvellous pictures also!
best regards, Corrie
I know that the hawk is a bird of prey, but it's a pity to look at how small birds are eating. Unfortunately, this is nature, sometimes cruel. Regards.
ReplyDeleteCruelty has nothing to do with it, Giga. Raptors are obligate carnivores (most of them) and they are simply feeding in the way they are genetically "programmed" to do.
DeleteIts like a national geographic series! The small birds are easy preys for the bird of prey!
ReplyDeleteDrastic scenes from your feeders ! Nature is beautiful but very brutal !
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, my garden is also visited by hawks!
Happy new week !
I am not sure why you consider it unfortunate, Ela.
DeleteHi Both,
ReplyDeleteWonderful images of this very impressive looking Hawk just doing what Hawks do.
The same happens with our Barn Owls when the weather is bad, we have found Blackbird skulls in the pellets.
All the best, John
She/he clearly has a preference for goldfinches. If he sticks around, your population of 30 is going to be significantly reduced. In my my yard in Minnesota they preferred juncos of which, fortunately, there seemed a neve-ending supply.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteExcellent sequence that shows that beautiful hawk devouring an unfortunate bird. Sometimes it does not seem nice but are nature's rules
The scene is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteYes, he also has his own feeder !
Have a good day David.