Hawk one foot from my macaws

[daria]

Before everyone gets mad at me for taking a picture when this hawk is so close to my B&G, I better explain. My husband took the picture because I couldn't scare the hawk away as I was outside with my greenwings on my shoulder and hand. I wanted to get the greenwings safely inside as I was afraid they would get scared by the hawk, fly and be easy pickens for the hawk. The picture is poor quality as I was on my way out and yelling at the hawk so the hawk was moving. Meanwhile, the wild blue and gold macaw flock didn't show up today because of this Da** hawk. Fuzzy and Scruffy , my two favorite wild macaws came yesterday after a 6 month absense and I was so looking forward to their visit today.

[Bokkapooh]

Thats a sparrow hawk, it wouldnt be able kill a blue and gold macaw. I saw a video once of a falconer telling its sparrow hawk to attack a pigeon and it just couldnt kill the pigeon. Its tallons just werent big enough and all it could do was pluck the poor bird and rip skin off its back and the falconer had to destroy the pigeon after the hawk got its fill. A macaw is MUCH bigger than that pigeon and it has a much bigger beak and a swipe from its beak would scare that silly hawk away. I dont understand why your blue and gold wild flock would be afraid of such a "puny" BOP. Personally I'd be more worried about a flock of territorial crows than a small lil hawk.

But that pic is quite a photo

[tibanks]

Wow that's quite a picture

[Birdbabe]

Looks like a juvenile Red Tail. Im sure he wouldnt be much of a threat, but he is beautiful. I have the tiny Kestrels ,"sparrow hawks" that visit here and my birds go nuts when theyre outside.

[lamagdalena]

even if that hawk wasn't a big threat to your babies, I say better safe than sorry. I would have been terrified too!

[daria]

I hope that this hawk couldn't be a threat to the macaws. I have seen him/her chasing the macaws over the water and the macaws will not stay if they know the hawk is around. It might be a red tail as we do have a resident red tail in the wildlife refuge across the street.

[Bokkapooh]

Hmm after closer look, it does appears it could be juvenile red tailed hawk. But I really cant tell because of the pictures. So Here are two links.

Here is a pic of a full grown sparrow hawk
BBC - Humber - In Pictures - Gallery March 07

Juvenile red tailed hawk:
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

Darias, what do you think? You saw him in person, which one did he closely resemble? The reason why I mentioned Sparrow hawk because it looks like there is yellow around the beak where as a red tailed hawk youngen would not have. And from the link I provided (2nd link) a baby redtailed hawk has a WHITE BIB and not speckles near its throat and on its chest like the one in your phot Daria. But Its hard to tell.

If it is a youngster red tailed hawk, that guy is getting real bold and appears very tame/too friendly for comfort.

[Greycloud]

It's definitely a red tail! And could absolutely do damage or even kill a macaw. I have worked with them at the zoo. You did the right thing by taking them in. I am sure the wild macaws are on alert and know he is visiting.

[daria]

Here are some more pics- He is pesky and persistent- these were taken with last month's post

[marian]

Judy that is right its a red tail hawk.Easily take down a parrot.