Yesterday evening, after another brutally hot day in Metro Denver, a male Cooper's hawk settled in our large catalpa tree. Seemingly enjoying the cooler air of sunset and a gentle north breeze, he did not appear to be in hunting mode.
Nevertheless, a trio of our avian residents would not tolerate his presence and began to vigorously dive at the raptor. One might think these attackers were blue jays, crows or magpies but, in fact, they were tiny broad-tailed hummingbirds. While Cooper's hawks feed primarily on relatively large songbirds such as robins, flickers and doves, the hummingbirds appeared to feel threatened nonetheless.
After a fifteen minute standoff, the hawk took cover in a neighbor's cottonwood and the victors buzzed away to their own nocturnal roosts. Hawks and owls may be apex predators but their right to enjoy an open perch in the cool evening air will almost always be challenged.
Nevertheless, a trio of our avian residents would not tolerate his presence and began to vigorously dive at the raptor. One might think these attackers were blue jays, crows or magpies but, in fact, they were tiny broad-tailed hummingbirds. While Cooper's hawks feed primarily on relatively large songbirds such as robins, flickers and doves, the hummingbirds appeared to feel threatened nonetheless.
After a fifteen minute standoff, the hawk took cover in a neighbor's cottonwood and the victors buzzed away to their own nocturnal roosts. Hawks and owls may be apex predators but their right to enjoy an open perch in the cool evening air will almost always be challenged.
