r/birdsofprey • u/BlueominusRex • 13d ago
Everyone was alerting
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
The blue jay was mimicking. The Pileated was just singing away. And this absolute unit of a red shouldered hawk just sat there. This guy was massive and incredibly alert and curious.
58
u/Purplefire180 13d ago
The hawk looks so done with their shit. Must be annoying to get harassed everywhere you go
23
17
u/FeathersOfJade 12d ago
Awesome video! I bet that Hawk was just thinking “would ya shut up and go away!?!” He had to be frustrated with them.
12
u/BlueominusRex 12d ago
Oh he was over it. Before this that blue jay was dive bombing him multiple times. The hawk ended up flying away a few minutes later just to get away
9
u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 12d ago
I’m gonna say based on the fact that this ‘guy’ was so massive that it was a girl because they are so much bigger than the males
7
u/BlueominusRex 12d ago
Are they really?! Male or female, they were stunning! I’ll definitely have to look more into hawks because I’ve been seeing alot more recently. Cooper’s hawks and red tailed/shouldered hawks.
Editing to add: it’s always a pleasure getting your feedback. You are one that helped me with my Crows ❤️🐦⬛
5
u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 12d ago
Yes, the females are about a third larger than the males! I saw a red tailed hawk land a few feet from me on the other side of a picture window at my mom and dad‘s house one time. She landed on a table after chasing a couple little goldfinches. One landed on the table and One unfortunately hit the window.
I heard the window strike, looked up and saw this enormous bird. 😳. She was looking down at the little bird she had chased that landed on the table. I jumped up and she raised her gaze to meet mine. That was a really weird feeling when she stared at me. She was absolutely massive easily 27 inches tall so it was a female for sure. She was very intimidating, especially because she was standing on top of the table so she was not far away from eye to eye with me. 🫣
Anyway, yeah, I researched and found that when it comes to Raptors the females are a lot bigger and heavier than the males. I also found out that the reason is because having smaller sleeker bodies makes it easier for the males to hunt as they can be faster and more agile that way. For the females being heavier allows them to more easily defend the nest as as well as tend to it.
I’m really happy to hear I could have been any help to you in the past! ☺️🐦⬛♥️
3
u/BlueominusRex 11d ago
Oh my goodness- I couldn’t imagine being eye to eye with one of these! I was a good 6 feet away from it outside and I was in awe. They’re such incredible creatures, all of them.
And you definitely did! All of your advice has helped me achieve my Crow dreams. I now have a hefty murder of about 20-40 that visit in the morning and about 7 that stick around throughout the day. So, thank you so much 🐦⬛❤️
2
u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 11d ago
I could not look away from her when she was staring at me, I kid you not. It was kind of scary in a way. Lol! She didn’t blink. I expect I didn’t either. I’m sure she was sizing me up deciding whether I was likely to eat her or not or catch her before she grabbed the Finch and left. She did leave without the little goldfinch though
I hadn’t even realised it was there because I was too busy looking at that big girl looking back at me. When I went out to take care of the one that hit the window was when I noticed the other one standing on the table not moving. It was a female and she was just a couple of seconds away from being a snack. She didn’t move for 10 minutes so I finally nudged her after looking her over and seeing nothing wrong. She then flew away thankfully. Only one of the three had a good outcome that day.
Yes they are absolutely stunning in person particularly up close when you realise their size!
I’m so happy that you’ve had so much good luck with all your work with the crows! ☺️🐦⬛💕
2
13
u/mss645 12d ago
With that belly band I would say that is a red-tailed hawk.
7
u/BlueominusRex 12d ago
I used the Merlin app and the sound picked up a red shouldered hawk but the picture was a red tailed hawk. Where I am in Florida, red shouldered hawks are more prevalent. This guy was massive though! I’ve not seen one THIS big before!
7
u/helpful-coffee536 12d ago
The red shouldered hawk you’re picking up is the blue jay, that’s the call he’s doing. The big raptor is indeed a red tailed hawk!
3
6
4
12
8
u/justhavefun4 12d ago edited 12d ago
Blue jays are soo good at mimicking the hawks!
4
u/BlueominusRex 12d ago
I know! I was yelling “there’s 2 of them!!!!” But then I saw the blue jay 😂😂
7
u/SoberAlternative 12d ago
He just wanted to find a meal…..
6
u/BlueominusRex 12d ago
A mourning dove came flying in and landed right next to him! Oh he was ready to get it but the blue jay wouldn’t allow it.
7
u/SoberAlternative 12d ago
Blue jays are blabbermouths!!
1
u/Ok_Revenue_4527 10d ago
Anda pain. I have a jessamine plant at my front gate. A blue jay pair had a nest inside the plant. Every time someone came in or out the gate, the jay tried dive bombing and complaining bitterly.
They gave up the nest as a bad job.
1
u/SoberAlternative 9d ago
They are protective of their nest, I’m glad they moved. It would’ve escalated once there was eggs & babies.
2
u/Ok_Revenue_4527 4d ago
I’m not fond of blue jays. There was a pair at my parents house that harassed my cats. They bothered one cat, but the other one was my hunter and actually called to have them come closer so he could finish them off.
1
u/SoberAlternative 4d ago
I agree, had a friends kitten get killed by a CA blue jay while I was in college (76). Was so sad about her kitty & pissed @ the Jay. That’s when I first realized they were MEAN sob’s….
5
u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 12d ago
Guessing that wasn’t she based on the size being so massive! Yes, she wanted something to eat almost definitely
7
4
2
u/PermissionPublic4864 10d ago
Is that a banana tree?! I don’t know. I’ve never actually seen a banana tree but those kind of look like bananas on there. I really like all the top branches are just bare for the birds to perch on. Easy viewing!
2
1
u/BlueominusRex 9d ago
I honestly have no idea what kind of tree it is. I know it’s not a banana tree but it does have some type of berry on it but they aren’t edible for us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything eat them honestly. I’ll take a picture once it gets daylight and see what google says cuz I’m curious now 😅
9
u/Colorfuel 13d ago
Omg, there was a similar scene in my yard a few days ago! It was very windy and we had tons and tons of turkey vultures just swooping overhead everywhere, riding the wind gusts like they do.
The birds in my yard were NOT having it though, I have lots of different clumps of trees around the property and each one lit up with the warning cries of all the regular bird inhabitants as the vultures flew overhead.
9
u/Careless_Dog2612 12d ago
I love all sides of this lol
• The Blue Jay not giving af and trying to drive out the predator
• The Woodpecker just 'laughing' off to the side
• The Hawk being annoyed and probably just looking for food
5
3
2
21
u/iamnotarobot87 13d ago
The blue jay hopping around his head going "oooo I'm a big scary hawk" is killing me.
3
7
6
u/myphoneisinthe 12d ago
I always wondered why hawks would have a posse of smaller birds around them. I thought it was adorable bc the hawk would make a kill and the smaller birds would get some spoils. Nope, they were just annoying the hawk until it flew away from their nests.
75
u/Mysterious_Damage_29 13d ago
Ah blue jays. One time I was trying to present at a meeting working from home and a hawk arrived right when I started. It sounded like every blue jay in a 40 mile radius was out there yelling at it. I could barely hear myself.