{"id":6680,"date":"2020-11-08T13:36:07","date_gmt":"2020-11-08T18:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/?p=6680"},"modified":"2022-12-06T07:39:44","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T12:39:44","slug":"hawks-flocks-predators-at-bird-feeders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/hawks-flocks-predators-at-bird-feeders\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks &#038; Flocks: Predators at Bird Feeders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Coopers-Hawk-Eating-a-Bird-Maybe-House-Finch-20180906-1888-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Juvenile Cooper's Hawk Eating a House Finch\" class=\"wp-image-6688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Coopers-Hawk-Eating-a-Bird-Maybe-House-Finch-20180906-1888-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Coopers-Hawk-Eating-a-Bird-Maybe-House-Finch-20180906-1888-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Coopers-Hawk-Eating-a-Bird-Maybe-House-Finch-20180906-1888-648x864.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Coopers-Hawk-Eating-a-Bird-Maybe-House-Finch-20180906-1888-144x192.jpg 144w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Coopers-Hawk-Eating-a-Bird-Maybe-House-Finch-20180906-1888.jpg 1125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">(Juvenile Cooper&#8217;s Hawk Eating a House Finch)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sooner or later you will probably see a hawk at your bird feeders. When a hawk hunts at feeders, feeder birds will react. And maybe you will react too! What will birds do? What will you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"yoast-reading-time__wrapper\"><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__icon\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-icon=\"clock\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:-0.1em\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M12 8v4l3 3m6-3a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__spacer\" style=\"display:inline-block;width:1em\"><\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__descriptive-text\">Estimated reading time:  <\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__reading-time\">15<\/span><span class=\"yoast-reading-time__time-unit\"> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In This Post:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-common-backyard-hawks\" data-level=\"2\">Common Backyard Hawks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-do-you-know-a-hawk-is-hunting-at-your-feeders\" data-level=\"2\">How Do You Know a Hawk is Hunting at Your Feeders?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-quiet-feeders-may-mean-a-hawk-is-around\" data-level=\"3\">Quiet Feeders May Mean a Hawk is Around<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-blue-jays-yelling-about-hawks\" data-level=\"3\">Blue Jays Yelling About Hawks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-an-eruption-of-birds-fleeing-a-hawk\" data-level=\"3\">An Eruption of Birds Fleeing A Hawk<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-birds-hitting-windows-when-fleeing-hawks\" data-level=\"3\">Birds Hitting Windows When Fleeing Hawks<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-piles-of-feathers-can-be-evidence-of-a-hawk\" data-level=\"3\">Piles of Feathers Can Be Evidence of a Hawk<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-which-birds-do-hawks-attack-at-feeders\" data-level=\"2\">Which Birds Do Hawks Attack at Feeders?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-flocks-flee-hawks-together\" data-level=\"3\">Flocks Flee Hawks Together<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-we-react-to-hawk-hunting-at-feeders\" data-level=\"2\">How We React To Hawk Hunting at Feeders<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-a-finch-vs-hawk-story\" data-level=\"3\">A Finch vs Hawk Story<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-hawks-are-part-of-backyard-birds-world\" data-level=\"3\">Hawks Are Part of Backyard Birds&#8217; World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-can-you-do-about-hawks-at-feeders\" data-level=\"2\">What Can You Do About Hawks at Feeders?<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#h-provide-cover\" data-level=\"3\">Provide Cover<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-taking-in-feeders-so-hawks-leave\" data-level=\"2\">Taking In Feeders So Hawks Leave?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-hawks-at-your-feeders\" data-level=\"2\">Hawks at Your Feeders<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Cooper's Hawk\" class=\"wp-image-6690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424-648x432.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424-288x192.jpg 288w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20180312-0424.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Cooper&#8217;s Hawk<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-backyard-hawks\">Common Backyard Hawks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my part of the world, two types of hawks tend to hunt at feeders: Cooper&#8217;s Hawks and Sharp-Shinned Hawks. In my particular yard, we mostly see Coopers and only an occasional Sharpie. Occasionally, usually during migration, a much larger Red-Shouldered Hawk may hunt in our yard for a day or two. Other hawks in my area tend to hunt in more open environments like fields, open marshes and road-sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some links to Cornell&#8217;s All About Birds species pages if you need some help identifying the hawk hunting at your feeders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Coopers_Hawk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cooper&#8217;s Hawk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Sharp-shinned_Hawk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sharp-Shinned Hawk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Red-shouldered_Hawk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Red-Shouldered Hawk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also see my <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/a-coopers-hawk-visit\/\">&#8220;A Cooper&#8217;s Hawk at Feeders&#8221;<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/backyard-birds-that-eat-other-birds\/\">&#8220;Backyard Birds That Eat Other Birds&#8221;<\/a> posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"Empty Feeders Can Mean Hawks Are Around\" class=\"wp-image-6691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019-648x434.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019-287x192.jpg 287w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Feeders-2705152019.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">(Almost) Empty Feeders<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-you-know-a-hawk-is-hunting-at-your-feeders\">How Do You Know a Hawk is Hunting at Your Feeders?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unless you are watching constantly during daylight hours, you will likely not see every time a hawk hunts your feeders. So how do you know a hawk is around?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quiet-feeders-may-mean-a-hawk-is-around\">Quiet Feeders May Mean a Hawk is Around<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have a lot of feeders in my yard and they are mostly pretty busy places. But when I look outside and don&#8217;t see a single bird for long stretches of time or if the only birds at the feeders are sitting very, very still and not eating, I know it is likely that a hawk is around. (Individual birds at feeders tend to react to hawks in one of two ways: flee or freeze in place.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Birds can be spooked in mass from feeders by a loud noise or a person walking through the area. But when a hawk is around, the quiet drags on as birds hide and wait for the hawk to leave. Sometimes the hawk will sit in a nearby tree with her back turned to the feeders for hours. Typically the hawk will move on after awhile and birds return to feeders. But the hawk often will circle back to the yard later and it gets quiet yet again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hawks tend to concentrate on my yard for a week or two before moving on to other hunting grounds. Every once in awhile, two Coopers will hunt the yard at once (which seems totally unfair!) Then the yard will get very, very quiet for a few days or longer until the hawks move on. Sometimes it seems to be a mated pair, but other times it will be two juveniles hunting together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Attracting-Blue-Jays-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-053020166.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Jay\" class=\"wp-image-2229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Attracting-Blue-Jays-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-053020166.jpg 600w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Attracting-Blue-Jays-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-053020166-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Attracting-Blue-Jays-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-053020166-325x192.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Blue Jay<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-blue-jays-yelling-about-hawks\">Blue Jays Yelling About Hawks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Family groups of Blue Jays are the feathered cops of my neighborhood. They take it upon themselves to not only keep watch, but to yell, surround and harass a hawk that shows up. Other birds will mob and scold hawks too, even tiny birds like Carolina Chickadees or Tufted Titmouses. But smaller more agile and maneuverable hawks like Coopers and Sharpies are probably more dangerous to mob than larger hawks. So these smaller birds mostly scold when smaller hawks are around. It is the very loud jays yelling as a group that can alert you even if you are inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes if you wander over to the area where the jays are loudly fussing and check the trees carefully, you&#8217;ll spot the hawk. Other times you won&#8217;t. (They can sometimes be surprisingly hard to spot, depending on how they are positioned among the branches and leaves.) Our yard and surrounding yards have many tall mature trees. The hawks typically perch about half way up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep in mind though that jays will also mob crows. When searching a tree for a hawk, keep an eye out for a crow as well. And jays yell for other reasons too, like for example, that peanuts have been put in the feeder! But pay attention. After awhile you&#8217;ll come to recognize when jays are yelling about a predator and when they are alerting their buddies to food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note<\/em><\/strong>: Here are a couple interesting articles about mobbing behaviors: <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nature.org\/science\/2019\/07\/22\/why-do-little-birds-mob-big-birds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Why Do Little Birds Mob Big Birds<\/a> and  <a href=\"https:\/\/centerofthewest.org\/2019\/01\/21\/mobbing-what-it-is-why-birds-dont-defend-themselves\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mobbing: What It Is and Why Do Mobbed Birds Put Up With It.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-an-eruption-of-birds-fleeing-a-hawk\">An Eruption of Birds Fleeing A Hawk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When feeders are busy but then there is a sudden eruption of birds frantically flying away, that can signal a hawk attack. Look closely (and quickly.) You may see a hawk flying among and after the birds. While they may single out one bird to follow, they can and do switch birds if the first gets away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if a hawk is not immediately attacking, sometimes you&#8217;ll see all the birds flee at once. The hawk may still be sitting in a tree and the birds are just reacting to its presence. Birds always seem to be on guard and watching, ready to flee, but if they know a hawk is around, their response is often even more hair trigger. If one bird in the flock panics, others likely will too, even if it turns out there wasn&#8217;t actually a hawk attacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Reducing-Bird-Strikes-with-Birdsavers-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2017-6.jpg\" alt=\"Zen Window Curtains\" class=\"wp-image-1516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Reducing-Bird-Strikes-with-Birdsavers-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2017-6.jpg 600w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Reducing-Bird-Strikes-with-Birdsavers-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2017-6-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Zen Window Curtains<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-birds-hitting-windows-when-fleeing-hawks\">Birds Hitting Windows When Fleeing Hawks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may be alerted to a hawk attack by the sickening sound of a bird hitting a window. When birds get panicked, the reflection of trees and sky in window glass can confuse them as they look for a way to escape. And if there is no other way to go, they are bound to hit something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep in mind that sometimes it is the bird being chased that hits the window and sometimes it is the hawk that hits. High speed aerial chases with tight maneuvering makes for a risky life for a backyard hawk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Note<\/em><\/strong>: I have noticed in my own yard, that birds new to the yard will sometimes hit a window even without a hawk scare. I think the regulars figure the windows out to some extent and stay clear of them most of the time. Windows can especially confuse new-to-the-yard or young birds even if a hawk is not around. (See my post on <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/reducing-bird-strikes-diy-birdsavers-project\/\">Reducing Bird Strikes<\/a> if you are looking for an effective way to greatly reduce bird window strikes.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mourning-Dove-Feathers.jpg\" alt=\"Mourning Dove Feathers in the Snow Suggest a Hawk Visit\" class=\"wp-image-469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mourning-Dove-Feathers.jpg 600w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Mourning-Dove-Feathers-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Mourning Dove Feathers in the Snow Suggest a Hawk Visit<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-piles-of-feathers-can-be-evidence-of-a-hawk\">Piles of Feathers Can Be Evidence of a Hawk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other times, you won&#8217;t see or hear the hawk attack because you are inside or away. You&#8217;ll be able to tell that it happened though if you find a pile of feathers on the ground. Hawks will sometimes sit on the ground and pluck their meal right there. Other times they take the bird to a tree to pluck them, with feathers falling down to the ground from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Mourning Doves on Feeders are Favorites of Cooper's hawks\" class=\"wp-image-6693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087-648x432.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087-288x192.jpg 288w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_7087.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Mourning Doves on Feeders<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-which-birds-do-hawks-attack-at-feeders\">Which Birds Do Hawks Attack at Feeders?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hawks will go after all kinds of feeder birds, but I do think they have preferences. For example, I&#8217;ve never seen a hawk go after a tiny hummingbird. Even if the hawk could catch such a fast little bird, they wouldn&#8217;t get much of a meal out of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In my yard, Cooper&#8217;s Hawks prefer big, plump, slow Mourning Doves. I&#8217;d say that three-quarters of the feather piles I&#8217;ve found over the years were dove feathers. Mourning Doves are flock birds too, which means that if the hawk misses one bird, there is probably another it could switch to target. Other flock birds like American Goldfinches and House Finches also seem to be common targets in my yard, but birds like cardinals and blue jays, etc. that visit feeders singly or in family groups can also be taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep in mind that individual hawks can differ in size. Cooper&#8217;s Hawks are very roughly the size of a crow while Sharpies are often compared to a Blue Jay in size. But a female Cooper&#8217;s Hawk is about a third larger than a male Cooper&#8217;s Hark. Sharp-Shinned Hawks are smaller in general than Coopers but a female Sharpie can come close in size to a small male Coopers. Because the male Sharpie is much smaller than the female, he is going to be the smallest of the four. (Female Coopers &gt; Male Coopers &gt; Female Sharpie &gt; Male Sharpie.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These size differences can influence which birds an individual hawk goes after. While the relatively large female Coopers love the big Mourning Doves and medium-sized birds like cardinals, the smaller Sharpies are more likely to go after smaller song birds like finches and sparrows and chickadees etc. If you get a Red-Shouldered Hawk in your yard like I did, pretty much any bird is fair game as well as the squirrel population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Tufted Titmouse\" class=\"wp-image-6708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198-648x486.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198-256x192.jpg 256w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tufted-Titmouse-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard_Birds_031020198.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Tufted Titmouse<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-flocks-flee-hawks-together\">Flocks Flee Hawks Together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One interesting thing about flock species at feeders is that they tend to react as a group to an on-going threat. So if a hawk is prowling the feeders, the Mourning Doves flock keeps itself scarce as a group and goes elsewhere to eat for hours or days at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when hawks are around for a week or more, my local flock of American Goldfinches will often completely disappear. This fall when two Cooper&#8217;s Hawks were hunting together, the House Finches finally got fed up and left too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was unusual for all the finches to leave. But it was actually kind of fascinating. Without the flock birds dominating the feeders, more intermittent birds, like Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmouses, became a constant presence. They took over the place, flitting in and out of every feeder! (Eventually the finches returned.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Red-Shouldered Hawk\" class=\"wp-image-6695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779-648x972.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779-128x192.jpg 128w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Buddy-Attick-Lake-20160311-5779.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Red-Shouldered Hawk<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-we-react-to-hawk-hunting-at-feeders\">How We React To Hawk Hunting at Feeders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I first started feeding birds, I reacted to hawks the way many bird watchers do. I would run out to try and thwart the hawk attack if possible and would be heart broken if a hawk succeeded. I&#8217;ve literally had hawks grab birds right in front of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-finch-vs-hawk-story\">A Finch vs Hawk Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One year we had a large Red-Shouldered Hawk hunting at the feeders. (Keep in mind that smaller Cooper&#8217;s Hawks or Sharp-Shined Hawks are more typical feeder hawks in my area.) I think this hawk was old or sick or maybe just found hunting in the yard more challenging than the woods because she would often just miss or not be able to hang on, leaving birds and squirrels with wounded heads or backs. I&#8217;ve never seen so many maimed birds and squirrels before or since in the yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One day, she chased a House Finch into a window. I heard the finch hit and went out to see if it was ok. The bird was obviously having trouble flying and couldn&#8217;t get altitude. I didn&#8217;t know there was a hawk involved and being new to this, didn&#8217;t know to look for one. So I tried to help the finch. That just scared the finch more. He was probably thinking he had two predators after it now. The result was that the finch blundered away from me right over to where the hawk swooped down to grab the finch within two feet of me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hawks-are-part-of-backyard-birds-world\">Hawks Are Part of Backyard Birds&#8217; World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This experience taught me something. Birds live in a wild dangerous world. We humans might have good intentions but sometimes our interference in the process of nature doesn&#8217;t really help. I think the determined hawk was going to get the injured bird either way. (Just consider that my presence didn&#8217;t deter the hawk from the hunt at all!) My blundering into the middle of the fight was not helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as much as it pains us to see the feeder birds we loved killed, the hawk has a right to eat and live too. Many times their attacks are unsuccessful and they go hungry. But sometimes they catch a bird and they get to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"866\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072-1024x866.jpg\" alt=\"Smaller Sharp-Shinned Hawks Hunt Feeders too\" class=\"wp-image-6696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072-1024x866.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072-768x650.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072-648x548.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072-227x192.jpg 227w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Sharp-Shinned-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170202-3072.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Sharp-Shinned Hawk<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-can-you-do-about-hawks-at-feeders\">What Can You Do About Hawks at Feeders?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what should we humans do about hawks at our feeders? Over the years, my approach to this has evolved. I still feel sad when I find a pile of feathers on the ground. But I&#8217;ve come to understand that hawks are part of a smaller bird&#8217;s normal life risks. While my feeders do draw birds together for the hawk to hunt, the hawk would be hunting them even if I didn&#8217;t feed birds. But the food I put out does help the lives of those birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-provide-cover\">Provide Cover<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My approach now is to try to provide feeder birds a chance to get away from the hawks but to understand that sometimes the hawk will win. I place feeders within ten feet of cover (but not immediately next to where a <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/keeping-cats-out-of-birdbaths\/\">lurking cat might hide<\/a>.) That gives the birds a chance to get away. (If you don&#8217;t have trees or bushes close, you might consider adding a <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/brush-piles-for-birds\/\">brush pile for cover<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"House Finch &amp; American Finch in Woodlink Cage Feeder\" class=\"wp-image-6698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108-648x432.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108-288x192.jpg 288w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Cage-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020D75_6108.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">House Finch &amp; American Goldfinch in Cage Feeder<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And some of my feeders are caged feeders (<a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/woodlink-squirrel-proof-seed-tube-feeder-erva-feeder-pole-extensions-reviews\/\">Woodlink Tube Feeders<\/a> and Erva Starling Proof <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/erva-starling-proof-suet-feeder-review\/\">Suet Feeders<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/ervas-starling-proof-mealworm-feeder\/\">Bluebird Feeders<\/a>.) Although the point of them is to keep larger birds like starlings and grackles out, caged feeders can also create a trickier target for a swooping hawk. I&#8217;ve actually seen small birds hide out inside cage feeders, keeping very still until the hawk threat has moved on. I&#8217;m not sure how much protection the cage would give if a hawk landed on the feeder and tried to get the bird out, but I have seen them used as cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But some of my feeders, being more open, are less protected. The <a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/putting-a-ground-feeder-on-a-pole\/\">covered platform feeders on poles<\/a> are trickier for a hawk to pick a bird off of. But I&#8217;ve seen a hawk grab birds off the more open hanging platform feeders or open tube feeders, even when there is a squirrel baffle or weather guard over them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And Cooper&#8217;s Hawks in my yard will also swoop down to go after birds on the ground. I sometimes find talon marks in the dirt under a feeder where birds pick up seed spilled on the ground. Ground feeding birds are probably the most at risk from backyard hawk attacks. So if I put seed on the ground for the sparrows, I still try to put it within ten feet of cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Cooper's Hawk\" class=\"wp-image-6701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880-648x432.jpg 648w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880-288x192.jpg 288w, https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Coopers-Hawk-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2020Backyard-Birds-20170128-2880.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span style=\"color:#abb8c3\" class=\"tadv-color\">Cooper&#8217;s Hawk<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-taking-in-feeders-so-hawks-leave\">Taking In Feeders So Hawks Leave?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some people suggest taking feeders down for a few weeks when there is a hawk in the area. That disperses the birds so the hawk moves on. I understand that strategy and am not knocking it, but right now my feeling is that the birds in my yard make the decision on their own on whether and when to disperse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I leave the feeders up. If the hawk is too much of a threat, the birds leave for awhile and the yard gets pretty quiet. Then the hawk doesn&#8217;t find as many birds here to hunt and moves on. Once the hawk leaves, the feeder birds return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing I&#8217;m not sure about is whether the hawk follows the flock when they leave. In other words, is the hawk simply hunting the same birds elsewhere when they leave my feeders? If that is the case, my taking down my feeders might spare me from witnessing it, but probably doesn&#8217;t stop the hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hawks-at-your-feeders\">Hawks at Your Feeders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Have you seen hawks hunting at your feeders? Please feel welcome to share your experiences, questions or comments below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nancie<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Want to read more posts about birds?<\/strong> When you subscribe below, you&#8217;ll get an email whenever a new post goes up (and ONLY then. Promise!) <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions__supports-newline wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions__use-newline wp-block-jetpack-subscriptions\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/?post_type=post&#038;p=6680\" style=\"font-size: 16px;padding: 15px 23px 15px 23px;margin-top: 10px;border-radius: 0px;border-width: 1px; background-color: #113AF5; color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap; margin-left: 0\">Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:26px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please Note: <em>My blog includes some Amazon affiliate links. The small fees they provide help cover my site costs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button alignright\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-red-background-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/birdseedandbinoculars\/pins\/\">Follow on Pinterest<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sooner or later you will probably see a hawk at your bird feeders. When a hawk hunts at feeders, feeder birds will react. And maybe you will react too! What will birds do? What will you do?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[234,224],"tags":[21,3184,28,78,25,3183,62,24],"class_list":["post-6680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-multiple-species-article","category-birdwatching-problems-and-solutions","tag-american-goldfinch","tag-blue-jays","tag-coopers-hawk","tag-house-finch","tag-mourning-dove","tag-red-shouldered-hawk","tag-sharp-shinned-hawk","tag-tufted-titmouse"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.7 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hawks &amp; Flocks: Predators at Bird Feeders - Birdseed &amp; Binoculars<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sooner or later a hawk will visit your bird feeders. 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But you might see them if you watch for them. Look beyond bird feeders! During winter months, most bird action in my yard is at the feeders. Birds also look under leaves and in bark crevices for bugs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Posts About Several Species&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Posts About Several Species","link":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/category\/learn-about-bird-species\/multiple-species-article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Palm Warbler","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Looking-Beyond-the-Bird-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2017-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Looking-Beyond-the-Bird-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2017-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Looking-Beyond-the-Bird-Feeder-Copyright-Nancie-Waterman-2017-5.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4081,"url":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/central-maryland-backyard-birds\/","url_meta":{"origin":6680,"position":5},"title":"Maryland Backyard Birds","author":"Nancie","date":"June 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"What birds can you expect to see in a Maryland backyard? While every property is different with its own mix of birds, many are pretty typical. These are the Maryland backyard birds commonly seen in our central Maryland yard. Estimated reading time: 27 minutes Birds in This Post:Year Round Maryland\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Posts About Several Species&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Posts About Several Species","link":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/category\/learn-about-bird-species\/multiple-species-article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Baltimore Oriole","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/baltimore-oriole-copyright-nancie-waterman-2020-Centennial-Lake-20160519-9802v1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6680"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8579,"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6680\/revisions\/8579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birdseedandbinoculars.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}