Cooper's and Sharp-Shinned Hawks: Prey & Behavior

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, particularly regarding their hunting and feeding habits. Participants explore whether it is typical for these hawks to kill prey without consuming it and consider the implications of food storage behavior in relation to nesting and breeding.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes observing a hawk that killed a dove but did not eat it, questioning if this behavior is normal.
  • Another participant humorously suggests that the hawks might be "stocking the pantry" for future offspring, indicating a potential food storage behavior.
  • References to red-shouldered hawks suggest that some hawks may store food near their nests for later consumption.
  • There is mention of Night Hawks storing frozen food, though the relevance to Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks is unclear.
  • One participant expresses concern about the dwindling dove population and suggests adding flavor to the hawks' food to deter them from preying on doves.
  • Another participant recounts an experience of feeding raw chicken to a fledgling broad-wing hawk, noting that the meat was consumed and implying that hawks may accept alternative food sources.
  • There is a suggestion to simply wait for the hawks to leave the area, indicating a passive approach to the situation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the normalcy of hawks killing prey without eating it, with some suggesting it is typical behavior while others question it. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of food storage and the hawks' feeding habits.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various behaviors and anecdotal experiences without establishing a consensus on the typical feeding behavior of Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks. The discussion includes speculative suggestions about hawk behavior and potential feeding strategies.

Evo
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No, they are not the NotAGoshawk. These are either Cooper's or sharp shinned hawks.

I was sitting outside the other evening when a hawk swooped in and landed on a tree branch with a dead dove in his claws. He ate about 1/3 of it and left the rest on the branch, a few minutes later another hawk flew past with a dead dove and tossed it into a nest and left it. There was already at least one other dove in there, I could see the tail feathers. I've been watching and the doves are still there, uneaten.

Yesterday, another hawk swooped in and narrowly missed another dove, so they are still hunting.

Is this normal for hawks to just kill, but not eat their prey? Or will they eventually eat the rotted birds?
 
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Evo said:
Is this normal for hawks to just kill, but not eat their prey? Or will they eventually eat the rotted birds?

What does your heart tell you?
 
I spotted one somewhat relevant reference

Red-shouldered hawks search for prey by perching on top of a tall tree or soaring over woodlands. When they sight prey, they kill it by dropping down onto it from the air. They may store food near their nest to eat later.
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Buteo_lineatus/
 
It seems that Night Hawks will store frozen food.

http://www.nighthawkfoods.com/01942_small2.jpg
 
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Evo said:
There are hardly any doves left. :frown:

One suggestion could be climbing up the tree and adding some flavor to their food such that they would never prey those doves again .. :devil:
 
Evo said:
Thanks Ivan! I guess they are "stocking the pantry" in anticipation of having babies.

There are hardly any doves left. :frown:
I hope the broad-wing family moves back soon. I have an excess of doves and I don't want to have them feeding on my shoots and seeds as gardening time ramps up.
 
rootX said:
One suggestion could be climbing up the tree and adding some flavor to their food such that they would never prey those doves again .. :devil:
If they will eat old meat, would they eat meat (chicken) I put out for them?
 
Evo said:
If they will eat old meat, would they eat meat (chicken) I put out for them?
My wife's uncle put out poultry when a juvi broadwing fell out of its nest. A friend of mine (chief of the Maine Warden service) and I were on our way back from a dump-run when we saw the fledgling in the gravel road. I got out to watch the chick while he went to his place to get some leather gloves (even the little ones are very feisty and can bite HARD). I put the gloves on, pinned the little guy's wings up against his body, and carried it into the woods along a stone wall (we knew where the nest was from prior wanderings), and set the little one down near the wall, with the parents making a hell of a ruckus. We told my wife's uncle what we had done (he like to watch the hawks) and he took raw chicken to that area every day and set it on top of the stone wall. The meat disappeared every day, and eventually, he saw the 3 broad-wings foraging, so we assume that the little one made it, and that the young hawk was not a nest-mate.