Numerous amounts of white-throated sparrows, that have been foraging here in large flocks on their way north, have attracted another species.
White-throated sparrows feasting on cracked corn
Trying to take prey from this large gathering of sparrows is a Cooper’s Hawk who swooped in beneath the feeder. This crow-sized hawk relies on seeing its prey move so the sparrows initially fly off to cover and then stay absolutely still in the hopes that the hawk will not pick up their movement.
Cooper's Hawk looking for the sparrows - they have to be around somewhere?
This beautiful hawk is a fierce predator able to fly through dense woodlots to capture its prey. Sparrows are on the smaller size of their prey, they prefer medium-sized birds such as doves, robins, blue jays, starlings and woodpeckers.
This angle from the back shows the rounded end of its tail which differentiates it from its cousin, the sharp-shinned hawk.
Thanks for reading BirdingZen! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
