Why do smaller birds like to bully hawks?

[Locut0s]

Saw a group of birds going after a hawk today. I've seen this before. Smaller birds really seem to like to bully hawks. They swoop him over and over. Felt sorry for the hawk.

 

[spidey07]

They are faster and if the hawk gets close they tell him to scram. Many other birds attack and eat predators babies.

 

[Texashiker]

Why do smaller birds like to bully hawks?

Maybe there is a small bird syndrome, like what small dogs have?

Maybe their just angry birds?

 

[Jeeebus]

They likely have a nest nearby they are trying to protect. My wife's family has a purple martin nest in their backyard and they will attack any hawk in the general vicinity (for good reason, as the hawk will help itself to the babies if they don't)

 

[OCGuy]

Same reason that you can get jumped/robbed in Rio by a pack of kids.

 

[Locut0s]

They are faster and if the hawk gets close they tell him to scram. Many other birds attack and eat predators babies.

I know it's just anthropomorphizing but it really does look like bullying.

 

[Locut0s]

They likely have a nest nearby they are trying to protect. My wife's family has a purple martin nest in their backyard and they will attack any hawk in the general vicinity (for good reason, as the hawk will help itself to the babies if they don't)

Ahh, yeah that makes sense.

 

[Locut0s]

Same reason that you can get jumped/robbed in Rio by a pack of kids.

Sorry I don't wear the american flag as a shirt when I travel.

 

[Perknose]

I know it's just anthropomorphizing but it really does look like bullying.

You would make a terrible hall monitor.

 

[Locut0s]

You would make a terrible hall monitor.

No doubt I would. Not even sure the concept really exists here in Canada. For all I know it might but I never came across the concept till I heard about it on TV.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Last weekend I saw a pretty awesome demonstration of why some smaller birds go after larger birds. I was driving along the highway when I saw a very, very large bird circling about half a mile ahead. As I got closer I saw that it was a bald eagle and it was being dive-bombed by a crow.

Just as I drove past, the eagle swooped down and picked up a dead cat from the grassy highway division. So in some cases it's just a matter of competing for food. Other times it might involve chasing away a predator (some species of hawk eat songbirds, so those songbirds may try to gang up on the hawk).

 

[Mr. Lennon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw158QBNLQE

I see this happen all the time around here. I haven't ever seen a hawk retaliate, but I'm sure they do.