Red-tailed Hawk landing after a Northern Harrier attack – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning I was photographing this Red-tailed Hawk in northern Utah, I was adjusting my exposure compensation because a cloud had shown up behind the hawk and I wanted to get the exposure of the bird right. When I heard a call to my left I glanced in that direction and saw a female Northern Harrier flying towards the Red-tailed Hawk at break neck speed. I barely had time to lock focus on the Red-tail before the incoming harrier dove at the hawk. I wish I would have had my teleconverter off during the attack but I didn’t know it was coming until I heard the harrier’s agitated call.
The Red-tailed Hawk jumped, turned its feet into the air in defense from the attack and when the harrier flew past the Red tail landed back on the rocks it had been perched on. I was close enough to the Red-tailed Hawk (in a mobile blind) that I didn’t get the harrier in any of my images plus the attack was so swift that the female harrier had moved out of the frame.
You can tell in these images that the Red-tailed Hawk was agitated by looking at the feathers on its head, it almost looks like the Red tail has a crest. You only need to search for images of these hawks on line while they are in hand for banding and see just how the crested look happens when they are agitated.
Red-tailed Hawk in a defensive posture during a Northern Harrier attack – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The female harrier wasn’t done with the Red-tailed Hawk and she made another pass at it but the second time the larger hawk stood its ground and raised its wings in a defensive posture. By this time the white cloud behind the hawk filled the frame and my viewfinder so the rest of my images of the attack are rather high key.
The Red-tailed Hawk was keeping an eye on the female harrier as it flew past close and fast.
Red-tailed Hawk in a defensive pose – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 640, +1.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The female Northern Harrier moved on after the second attack and for a few seconds the Red-tailed Hawk stayed perched where it was before taking flight again but as it moved up the hill an American Kestrel dove-bombed it! The poor Red-tailed Hawk was just minding its own business and was attacked by two other raptors in a matter of minutes.
I suspect that both the female harrier and the kestrel (which I didn’t see long enough to find out its gender) probably went into attack mode to protect their young who may have been nearby. I hope the Red-tailed Hawk had a less stressful day after it flew away from the kestrel.
There is never a dull moment in nature.
Life is good. Birds make it interesting.
Mia
P.S., I got torn up by both mosquitoes and biting gnats yesterday morning and one of them bit me in my left eyebrow, I just noticed that my left eyelid is puffy and swollen up. Oh, the joys of being a bird photographer. I feel like I pushed my head into the rear end of a porcupine because of all the bug bites.
Click here to view more of my Red-tailed Hawk photos plus facts and information about this species.
Fascinating study of a raptor dust-up. Great shots and commentary. Thanks Mia.
What a brilliant series.
I would certainly be intimidated by the red-tail.
I feel for your savaged self. Insect bites on your eyelids are no fun. Bites on your lips are bad too.
Gorgeous details in this series!
These are fabulous shots — it must have been so exciting to witness in person.
Amazing – incredible shots showing so much use of feathers. Very unusual. Much appreciated.
Intense shots , I will have to look on my computer screen when we get home tonight. Phone screens just aren’t big enough!
Maybe it’s my imagination but just the look in the Red-tailed Hawk’s eye makes him look angry. Wonderful shots.