[wisb] Re: Sharpie
- From: Erik Bruhnke <birdfedr@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: loonp@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 16:30:47 -0600
Kurt,
Accipiters are very much sight-based for finding and pursuing their prey. I
actually had a similar observation today while shoveling snow... A Cooper's
Hawk was flying through the backyard, and attempted to nab some Mourning
Doves. It had an unsuccessful attempt at hunting during those brief moments,
but from what I've learned thusfar about raptors, the accipiters are
sight-based.
Northern Harriers are a little different in their habitat
preferences/hunting techniques. Of course they use their vision, but they
also have a very well-adapted facial disk for picking up faint sounds by
their prey. The term facial disk refers to the concave halves of the front
of the skull (face). Here's two photos of a Northern Harrier, that I took
last fall at Hawk Ridge. It's a little hard to see with the photos, but look
for the stuck-out-bill, and collapsed 'cheeks' of the bird, giving it the
facial disk. Harriers hunt by gliding over fields, while the accipiters tend
to eye-up prey in wooded areas, then make a sprinting pursuit.
http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/104225890
http://www.pbase.com/birdfedr/image/104225871
I went on a little side note there, but wanted to share some insight on how
other different raptors feed - in addition to the Sharp-shinned Hawk note.
Good birding,
Erik Bruhnke
Waukesha, WI
NATURALLY AVIAN - Bird photography and guided bird hikes
www.pbase.com/birdfedr
birdfedr@xxxxxxxxx
On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 3:03 PM, K Petersen <loonp@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi all -
>
>
> During the snowfall this morning a sharp-shinned hawk flew in to one of our
> backyard trees. A downy woodpecker was on a peanut feeder at the time, and
> the whole time the hawk was there the downy remained absolutely motionless.
> The instant the hawk left the downy resumed movement.
>
>
>
> Do accipiters hunt as much by movement as by sight??
>
>
>
> Kurt Petersen
>
> Sheboygan County
>
>
>
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