Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Cooper's Hawk in the backyard

 Photos by Barry Wallace
COOPER'S HAWK
Accipiter cooperii

Cooper's Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks are frequent visitor's to our backyard, especially when the Mourning Doves are gathered at the feeders.   Pictured above is a large female Cooper's Hawk that has just captured a Mourning Dove and is spreading her tail and wings ( a behaviour called mantling) over the captured bird, in a combined attempt to hide her prey and also to protect it from being snatched away by another predator.   Below she is seen plucking feathers from the unlucky dove, prior to devouring it.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

1 comment:

  1. Tis nature, nature my dear girl!

    {old Appalachian song line}

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