Upside-down Red-tailed Hawk

[Becky Marvil]

Just after 3pm today, we were driving on Route 1 past Exit 17 (of I-295) when we spotted a RTHA hanging upside-down in a tree.  Not able to stop because of traffic behind us, we drove on past and turned around.  As we were heading back to the bird, I dialed Avian Haven, but only got a voice message.  As we drove back by the bird, we could see that it was now right-side up, perched on a branch (in nearly the same location, we think).  We turned around again to see if its leg was caught somehow, but this time as we approached it flew off and seemed fine.

 

I googled whether others have reported such a behavior and the link I found suggested that it might have perched on a too-thin branch and was not able to grip well enough so it flipped over.

 

Anyone else have any thoughts about this behavior?

 

Becky

 

Becky Marvil

Yarmouth, ME

 

 

[Boots.]

I have seen other species of birds hanging upside down after a strike of some sort; car, window. What I have seen a few times over many years is this: a bird strikes something, they grab at whatever is closest in almost the same moment that they are stunned, semi- or unconscious. Then when they recover (if they do) they either let go and drop, whereby they get lift, and fly off or, right themselves to further recuperate. Dunno if that's what happened to RTHA.

~Boots.

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[RALPH ELDRIDGE]

I once saw a Great Horned Owl flip under its perch to avoid a strike from a Goshawk.

The owl had gotten too close to the Goshawk's nest. 

Between passes by the hawk, the owl released its grip, dropped a few feet, righted itself and exited the area.

In this particular case the owl and the hawk had nests no more than 100 yards apart. Although the owl started (and finished) nesting much earlier than the hawk, there was still enough overlap  in their seasons to create lots of "border incidents".

In spite of the conflicts, both nests fledged two healthy youngsters.

[cathie...@gmail.com]

what an amazing story Ralph!

In 2018 I was part of a scouting group for a goshawk research effort. 

In late winter we stationed ourselves in deep woods before dawn to see if we heard goshawks as they returned to potential breeding territory.

I did hear a barred owl during those cold dark hours.

Since a goshawk was heard by a teammate, we left the territory so as not to interfere with breeding.

I wondered if the owl and goshawk could breed and co-exist.

Sounds like maybe...or maybe not!

Cathie Murray

Hallowell