Behavior shot - hawk vs eastern king bird

[Misfit79]

this clearly wont win any prizes... but was fun to watch...
The kingbird hopped on the young redtails back and "rode" him around while pecking at his head..




Thanks for looking

Rory

 

[EricD]

Nice capture for sure!
Funny how you see all the raptors being chased by birds a fraction of their size.

TFS

 

[Arkanjel Imaging]

Nice capture for sure!
Funny how you see all the raptors being chased by birds a fraction of their size.

TFS

No doubt. But they are usually only mildly annoyed by their presence. Hes like "oh, you're still there?"

Good timing. :thumbup:

 

[jackiejay]

LOL cool shot

 

[Derrel]

VERY cool shot! Interesting behavior on the part of the king bird. This might be a dumb question, but arkanjel's description about how the hawks take to this makes me wonder: is this perhaps a symbiotic relationship? Is it possible that the kingbird is removing some type of tick or bug or other parasite from the hawk's head?

 

[Arkanjel Imaging]

VERY cool shot! Interesting behavior on the part of the king bird. This might be a dumb question, but arkanjel's description about how the hawks take to this makes me wonder: is this perhaps a symbiotic relationship? Is it possible that the kingbird is removing some type of tick or bug or other parasite from the hawk's head?

No, being a pest is the only defense small birds have. A raptor leaves because he is annoyed not because he is threatened. By this time they have already lost the element of suprise.