Sketch and story by Tom Godin,
July, 2001

The bird world can be divided into two types of birds - those that eat stuff other than birds, and those that eat other birds and some other stuff. We call the last group predators, birds of prey, and sometimes raptors.

Some birds of the first group (those that don’t eat birds) feed on invertebrate life such as insects, caterpillars and worms. Others prefer seeds, plants, and fruit. Some eat fish. Around feeders Hummingbirds sip sugar-water, another perfectly harmless food item. Some birds such as the Nuthatch feed on suet derived from animals people have killed. That aside, I want to focus on birds that eat other birds in order to discuss an interesting relationship between raptor and prey and how this can be used to see more hawks.

Birds that eat other birds belong to the families of Hawks, Eagles, Owls, and Falcons. For the purposes of this column we’ll ignore a few exceptions such as the shrike.

Many people, including some not heavily into bird watching, find predatory birds interesting and inspiring. Who has not stopped in front of a painting of a Bald Eagle to drink in its noble bearing? Depicted in majestic flight, clouds billowing in the open sky, snow-capped mountains below, one is moved to gush ‘Wow! That’s freedom!’ Many of the raptor groups elicit such reactions. Mighty and powerful these birds are the kings and/or queens of the sky. We have to mention the female raptor as queen because it is often larger than the male and as a result may be more impressive. Why is she larger than the male? Have you ever heard of the expression hawk-pecked? It came about shortly after the hen-pecked idea.

In defense of flying predators - not to be confused with a charter flight of used car salespersons - hawks, owls and eagles are not acting with spite in their persecution of fellow birds but rather from hunger. Having evolved into killing machines they can’t just turn off, or become vegetarians. They must pursue the path set for them.

There have been a large number of hawks near the house where I stay, and they are as devoted to feeding their hungry young as any other bird. One reason I have seen more than the usual amount of hawks is that several swallows nest nearby and they act as a kind of hawk early-warning-system.

Are swallows a prime source of food for birds of prey? The short answer is no, swallows are difficult prey for the best of flying predators.

Swallows don’t like birds of prey and become very agitated when one puts in an appearance. Their loathing is so great that they will give a rallying call which alerts other swallows to gather and noisily pursue the invader. When I hear the rallying cry commence I prepare myself for a hawk sighting.

Swallows are very discerning about which raptors they pursue and how much is put into the effort. Upon distinguishing a Goshawk from a Merlin, a Kestrel from a Rough-legged Hawk, or a juvenile Eagle from a Harrier, the swallows arrange the correct amount of pursuers.

It’s all based on the species of hawk. They don’t chase everything equally. They chase in degrees. A Red-tailed Hawk is accorded light reaction because the hunting abilities of this hawk are not much of a threat to adult swallows. The Red-tail has big round wings suitable for gliding. This limits the speed at which they fly. The Red-tail soars in the open and prefers mammals such as ground squirrels. A Red-tailed Hawk, flying low, is accorded roughly a ‘three swallow’ chase. The three pursuing swallows will loudly chant a ‘let’s give this hawk what for’ call, but nearby swallows respond with a yawn and continue stuffing their faces with flies and mosquitoes.

Subtle tone changes in the swallows’ call must give an indication as to the type of bird being pursued. Imagine the shame if a swallow miscalculated and instigated a twenty-swallow attack on a Harrier. Birds can’t blush but the swallow would suffer much loss of face if it were the cause of such a massive overreaction. Who would believe its rallying cry after such an embarrassment?

Which are the toughest hawks according to the swallows’ rules of order? The most infamous are the best flyers and the stealthiest hunters. Goshawks, any of the Falcons including the Merlin, and the Cooper'’ and Sharp-shinned Hawks are hailed by the swallow mobs as the birds most likely to get the warmest receptions.

A Goshawk rates a full squadron attack. The only swallows exempt from joining the un-welcoming committee are the aged and those still in the egg. All the rest must turn out screeching.

If you enjoy watching hawks it would pay to become familiar with the rallying cry of swallows. Tree swallows and Cliff swallows use a rapidly repeated ‘gee-gee-gee’. The barn swallow rapidly repeats ‘kee-see’.

Even sitting in the living room watching summer re-runs of lottery number draws you can be alerted to the approach of a hawk by knowing a swallows call. If you hurry from your chair at the sound of the swallows’ cry you might be rewarded with the sight of a local bird of prey.

When you are able to recognize the ‘swallow mobbing’ call you are ready to move to the next level and become familiar with the subtleties of knowing how many swallows are mobbing. A ‘several swallow’ banter may indicate a raven flying too low over a swallow nesting area.

Normally, ravens flying high above tree top level are generally ignored. You probably wouldn’t want to spring from your chair to see a raven. But you do want to be out for the really good sightings. Bald Eagles are usually ignored completely.

A general din of screaming swallows is hard to miss. If I’m sitting outside on the front porch and I hear the preamble to the swallow rally, I run to the driveway. Getting away from obstructions such as houses helps to get a clear view of the raptor being chased. Dashing to see a hawk is almost like an earthquake drill, but don’t run under a doorsill, or hide beside a fireplace. Few hawks are seen in those places.

At this point you might ask what the swallows are actually achieving with their flying, screaming attacks. Well, nothing really. They’re just letting every swallow within earshot know that there’s a predator around. They’re also speeding the hawk through their territory with threats to its well being. “How,” you might ask, “ could a swallow harm a killing machine such a Goshawk?”

Yesterday, as I stood with someone, watching several swallows mobbing a hawk, I was asked why the hawk didn’t just turn around, catch a swallow, and rip it to shreds. First, I convinced the person with me to drop the rake he was brandishing and then I told him.

The hawk isn’t interested in trying to catch a swallow. A Goshawk wants to catch a rabbit or a grouse. It wants a meal not a snack. It attacks to procure food. It is unlikely that a Goshawk could even get near a swallow in a flat out chase. Another strange anomaly of creatures moving in groups, whether swallows or fish, is that they tend to intimidate predators who may see them as one large organism rather than many small separate creatures.

But most likely the Goshawk doesn’t retaliate against the swallows because it doesn’t want to hurt itself. Participating in vengeful acts is for humans. A hawk doesn’t lose its temper. It has no temper to lose. If a hawk attacks because its nest is threatened it is not losing its temper. It is following an instinct that compels it to display a certain amount of aggression if its nest is threatened.

A hawk also relies heavily on its eyesight and risking injury by engaging in a scrap with a small bird is just not done. There is no convalescent home for the one-eyed hawk injured in a brawl with a swallow. A hawk with an injured eye is a dead hawk. A hawk suffering any kind of injury to its wings, eyes or even its feet will slowly starve to death.

So, all of those who would enjoy hawk watching, learn the swallow-rallying cry. Listen for it. Rush out and watch the hawk hurry by with their shoulders hunched and learn something from all this, something the hawk already knows. You gotta stay in it to win it!