[TN-Bird] Cooper's Hawk, Juvenile Behavior
- From: "David & Gloria Patterson" <dgpatterson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "tn-bird" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "sefc" <SEFC-Birding@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 7 Aug 2005 16:00:43 -0400
Houston Lane, Ooltewah, Hamilton County, TN
August 7, 2005
Two juvenile Cooper's Hawks, looking like 1st year females, spent 30 minutes
around 1:00 PM August 6th in what looked like play. First they harassed some
squirrels on a feeding bench; the squirrels didn't appear cautious or afraid.
Dozens of Cardinals and other birds fed nearby, ignoring the hawks. Then the
hawks perched on low branches in nearby trees, watching the ground intently.
One pounced on what looked like a cicada, and after a lot of activity appeared
to eat it. One caught an earthworm and ate it; it took about 5 or 6 strikes to
subdue the worm. Some minutes later one attacked a much larger prey in the
grass, striking it, jumping back, striking repeatedly, biting it some,- it was
a pine cone!
They were large, attractive birds, flying well, but not in my judgement nearly
as fast as Cooper's Hawks should, and they stayed in plain sight most of the
time, not hiding as expected. We haven't found any feathers in the yard
recently.
Cooper's are fairly common in the yard, catching a feeder bird from time to
time. We have suspected a nest in the neighborhood this spring.
David and Gloria Patterson
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