Just a single image this morning but one I found interesting despite its technical shortcomings.
Northern Harriers are well-known for aggressive behavior toward larger raptors intruding on their territory but seldom chase off raptor species smaller than themselves. This interesting behavioral quirk apparently results from the ability of harriers to steal food from smaller raptors. It’s easier to pilfer prey from a smaller competitor than it is to catch it yourself or steal it from a larger raptor, so harriers tend to let the smaller ones hang around.
Red-tailed Hawks average more than twice the weight of Northern Harriers but this harrier (the hawk on top) showed no hesitation in harassing its larger competitor last November on Antelope Island. Neither bird had prey – I simply believe that the red-tail wandered into the harrier’s territory and the harrier didn’t appreciate it. The harassment continued until the red-tail had enough and left the area.
I sure wish I had avoided clipping the wing of the harrier but was happy to get both birds sharp and a look at the eye of each.
Ron
Good capture of the interaction here, I am glad that you decided to share it despite the clipped wings. Ifind it interesting.
When I saw the butterfly confront the hummingbird (and chase it away), I was first amazed, then a little depressed…I’d never thought of butterflies as aggressive, too. I kept thinking, “EVEN butterflies?…….” What was your reaction? Have others seen “bully butterflies?
This is a wonderful photo, despite the wing clip. It speaks volumes. The behavior you describe is very interesting. It’s something I’ve not heard of before. I have to confess, though, after reading your comment to Sonja Ross, that I would be very sad to see the Harrier steal from a Kestrel, now that I’ve become so fond of Kestrels.
I agree, Susan – but then I find it hard to pick favorites…
Maybe size doesn’t matter…maybe even somebody smaller than you can be conceived as a threat…to nesting space, eggs, babies, hunting territory, food source…or mabe it’s just plain old prejudice raising its ugly head once again. We once saw a confrontation between a ruby-throated hummingbird and a tiger swallowtail butterfly over some verbena in a flower box… (the butterfly won!)
Patty, I saw something similar just a couple of weeks ago – Monarch Butterflies chasing hummingbirds. It was obvious and deliberate and really surprised me.
Oops – I meant the Australian magpie is NOT actually a corvid – just a black and white bird that reminder the English settlers of their magpies back home.
I agree with Patty – I think the clipped wing adds to the drama. The issue is the faces – which you nailed.
I am always amazed at just how feisty some birds can be. Often the smaller ones punch ‘well above their weight’. Years back I spent half an hour (when I was at work and very busy) entranced at the scene being played out just beyond the window. A Wedge-tailed Eagle (and they are BIG) was resting on a post. Two magpies were constantly dive-bombing it. It was mid-winter so protection of their young wasn’t the issue, and they feed on different things…. I have always wondered just why they took it on. The eagle largely ignored them, and their behaviour continued until the eagle decided to leave.
Corvids have an age-old manifesto, Elephant’s Child, to attack any raptor they can find, it seems! Although technically, I don’t think your magpies in Australia are actually corvids. Interestingly, I’ve seen crows attacking ravens, and blackbirds attacking crows the same day, a few miles apart. What goes around, comes around, I guess! One theory in a book on the corvidae stated that it might be some kind of machismo … a contest to show how brave they are. This was accompanied by a great shot of a raven perched not far from an eagle, yelling its head off. Of course, a bit further on in the book (Bird Brains – The Intelligence of Crows,Ravens, Magpies and Jays, by Candace Savage) was a photo of the remains of a raven that a goshawk had done a really good job of eating. So there is some cause for the animosity. But I’ve seen a red-tail perched with what looked like a plume of smoke above it – when I got closer I could see it was crows taking turns dive-bombing it … and when the hawk finally took off, it trailed this tail of crows. Very funny! Though I have seen the raptors flinch when they are hit, even by a small blackbird. And I’ve seen swallows dive-bombing kestrels, kestrels dive-bombing red-tails, jays and even robins attacking screech owls. In fact, it’s often a good way of finding an owl or hawk during the day – follow the sound of mobbing jays or crows.
Loved your contribution here, Louise! I’ve seen many of the same things you describe. I’ll be looking for that book!
Lovely photos in that book, Ron. I’m sure you’ll appreciate it – and it’s an interesting compilation of different studies, though some corvid researchers I’ve discussed it with kind of roll their eyes, since Candace Savage is not a researcher – but she does a great job, IMHO, of presenting scientific information in a populist way, very understandable and interesting. DO check out the raven remains photo – the composition of that photo is gorgeous, though very graphic – it’s towards the end of the book … there is blood on the snow, raven legs, and head, and lots of black feathers and that’s about it! Very memorable.
I’d love to see one of your Wedge-tailed Eagles one day, Elephant’s Child.
I once photographed several Short-eared Owls and Northern Harriers repeatedly attacking a juvenile Bald Eagle in Montana. It lasted for so long (I was shooting from the door of my camping trailer) that I eventually had to quit shooting and attend to the dinner I was cooking. If memory serves, and I think it does, it went on for over a half hour.
I’ve posted about it here – https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2011/07/19/raptors-mobbing-raptors/
Interesting that it’s an adult female (i.e., larger) harrier and an immy red-tail. Wonder if that makes any difference in what a harrier would take on.
From what I’ve seen, size apparently doesn’t make any difference, Louise – harriers will take them on. Of course they generally don’t actually attack, they just harass.
From an artistic point of view, the way this amazing photo is “cropped” (wing clipped), improves the composition. Harrier’s thievish behavior is similar to that of our nation emblem’s of “why hunt for your own food when it’s easier to steal from some one else”…is there some kind of message here?
I agree with you about the composition, Patty but I’d still sacrifice comp style points for not having clipped the wing. And yes, Bald Eagles are notorious for this kind of thievery, one of the reasons some didn’t like it’s choice as our national bird.
You are kidding about the wing clipping aren’t you? To catch this battle was an amazing fete, but to catch it with both raptors clearly staring each other down is almost unbelievable! What wing clip? Get over it Mr. perfection!
Thanks again for sharing your wonderful talent!
Charlotte
You made me smile, Charlotte! Thank you.
Great shot Ron even with the wing clip.
We overlook about 500+ acres of meadow, cattail marsh in spots and agricultural upland further away from us. I watch 2 male Harrier’s and 2 females patrolling the area. I have to be more observant of their behavior, but they seem, at least for now, the only birds of prey that frequent this meadow. We have Red-tails in the vicinity, but have not witnessed this behavior yet. Looking forward to seeing this interaction.
Many thanks for sharing.
I hope you get to see it, Dick – it’s very interesting to watch and quite difficult to photograph…
It is a pity about the clipped wing but it is interesting, and that Northern Harrier’s tail has a striking pattern. I’ll have to keep a watch on our Harrier’s here and see if they exhibit this sort of behaviour as it’s not something I’ve heard about.
Sonja, I’ve seen the behavior several times – particularly with kestrels. Even though both species feed on the same prey around here (mostly voles) harriers pretty much leave kestrels alone unless they’re trying to steal prey. Kestrels are more maneuverable than harriers but when they’re carrying voles it slows them down.