Bald Eagle mobbed by Kingbirds

Last week, I posted some photos of Red-Tailed Hawk, Amelia, being mobbed by a Northern Mockingbird. I've always thought Mockingbirds to be the gutsiest of all the small birds when it comes to assaulting raptors. A recent experience, however, has changed my mind. 

I now declare Eastern Kingbirds masters of mobbing.

I was hiking on a rainy day when I heard a Kingbird calling, followed by the cries of a young Bald Eagle. It turns out the Eagle had committed the crime of perching in the Kingbird's tree. 

A pair of Kingbirds harassed the Eagle until it flew out of the tree, at which point they followed and aggressively bit the Eagle on the back and head.

This was the first time I'd ever seen the golden crowns of the Kingbirds (visible in the photo below), a sign they were really riled up.

This was one of the most exciting bird observations I've had, so I was annoyed that it happened on a dark rainy day with bad light, but I'm happy to have been able to get these photos even if they aren't the best quality.

In the end, the Kingbirds chased the Eagle far from their tree, which they returned to, victorious.

 

On the same day, I found an adult Bald Eagle being bullied by a Mockingbird. 

It was interesting to note that the Mockingbird approached the adult Eagle from behind and bit its tail rather than going for the head. Maybe the Mockingbird recognized that this was a more experienced and threatening enemy than the young inexperienced Eagle. 

 

Eventually, the persistent Mockingbird won this battle as well, driving the Eagle off its perch and out of the area.

 

 

 

Mid-summer Tompkins Square hawk round-up

July is almost over, and the Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk fledglings are spending more time outside the park, which makes them more difficult to find.

At least one of them, however, is still making regular appearances in the park. 

This particular individual was actively chasing after squirrels near Avenue A on a recent afternoon. 

I like how the young hawks can so easily blend into the streetscape.

I was watching the hawk from across the lawn when it flew and landed right in front of me. I couldn't believe it and had to back up as it was so close.

On its way to torment some squirrels...

The three squirrels on this tree scattered when they saw the raptor approaching. 

Failing to catch a squirrel, the hawk grabbed a piece of wood and took off with that instead.

Looking for its next target...

One of the other three siblings:

This fledgling caught a pigeon and found a private space in a garden to eat it.

Meanwhile, this fledgling tried its luck with rodents along 10th Street.

And this fledgling gets a face full of feathers as it plucks a pigeon on the ground.

Each year, our time with the hawks seems so short. They hatched in late April and only came out of the nest the second week of June. In general, they embark on their migrations in August, but we've had some in the past stay through September. You can see information about previous hawk seasons on my Tompkins Square Hawk Archives page. 

 

Bird mobbing

Part of being a raptor is dealing with mobbing by other birds. Resident Tompkins Square Red-Tailed Hawk, Amelia, is a master of patience when it comes to ignoring annoying little bullies.

Below, Amelia perches on one of the towers of St Brigid's Church while a Northern Mockingbird watches her. 

The Mockingbird yells at her, but Amelia barely glances its way.

The Mockingbird is not having it, though, and goes on the offense.

It jabs Amelia in the back with its feet.

The Mockingbird went at her several times, but Amelia just gave it a dirty look and went on about her day.

This is Amelia earlier in the summer perched on the cross of St Nicholas of Myra Church on a rainy day. The weather didn't keep a Blue Jay from pestering her.

A male Kestrel joined the Blue Jay in assaulting the hawk.

The Kestrel succeeded in getting Amelia riled up.

Sometimes the mobber becomes the target, like this female Kestrel getting side-swiped by a Blue Jay.

This young Red-Tailed Hawk  in Brooklyn gets mobbed by an American Crow.

And this adult Red-Tailed Hawk is chased by a Red-Winged Blackbird at Governors Island.

Here's another hawk being pursued by a crow.

This is a terrible photo, but I like the way this young hawk is looking back at the Kestrel chasing it. 

Back in 2018, Amelia and her fledglings were all mobbed by an interesting Mockingbird that was missing its tail.