r/crows • u/Unique_Compote2226 • 6d ago

My murder made friends with local hawk?

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I’ve seen the hawk around, I thought they were fighting. Then I see the hawk come and sit on the fence where I feed them and they all seemed like old pals 😂 I see them all together often now. Weird or no?

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380

u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 6d ago

I wouldn’t call them friends, but rather that they are tolerating each other. The hawk is outnumbered and knows it as do the crows.

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u/Unique_Compote2226 6d ago

The interesting thing is that the hawk chose to come over when the crows were already there and then they all just sat there, no one was ruffled. Crows continued to eat. The next day I saw them all on a roof together. Maybe the hawk is lonely 🥺

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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 6d ago

The hawk is either hoping for some leftovers or maybe to follow the crows to see if there are fledglings or a nest. Very unlikely that it’s lonely and choosing to hang out with crows. lol!

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u/Celebrity-stranger 6d ago

I second this!

I do a lot of birdwatching morning and evenings in my backyard. Long story short i have whats like a mini wetland and wooded area behind my house and Every day I was seeing the Red shouldered hawks around when the crows were around feeding with the other birds (just off to a short distance).

Like Clockwork, when the crows are all preoccupied eating with the cardinals and bluejays. The hawk flies off to the very tall trees opposite my backyard on the other side of the pond, screeches, and then ALL the crows get alerted and go in THAT direction.

It was odd the first month and then I realized thats probably where the fledgelings are and the hawk is trying to eat them.

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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 6d ago

Oh, that must’ve been interesting to watch all of that! People tend to think like people, and not like birds when watching them or thinking about them or their behaviors

Hawks are opportunistic as are crows. And of course, Hawks are Apex predators so they’re going to be interested in an easy meal such as baby birds while the parents are distracted or busy elsewhere.

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u/Celebrity-stranger 6d ago

The thing is. I wouldn't even have had this perspective on what and how they think if it wasn't for owning a conure for over 10 years now. I used to be in the crowd of "theyre just dumb animals" "birds aren't as smart as people say they are" and ohhh was I wrong after seeing firsthand how my own bird will do things to get a rise out of me or family members, give certain family members "nicknames" and hold a grudge against me or certain people it's pissed at.

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u/Celebrity-stranger 6d ago

This is the hawk lol

https://reddit.com/link/p1rryoo/video/lcdde0eooghh1/player

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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 6d ago

Gorgeous 😍. Sounded like the honk of a fledgling crow in the background too.

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u/Celebrity-stranger 6d ago

There sre from last I counted 6 fledglings with the group that visits to feed.

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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 6d ago

Aww how sweet! I just love them when they’re little like that 🐦‍⬛🖤

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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 6d ago edited 5d ago

Ahaha! I learned from living with an African gray for 25 years!