Has anyone ever seen a [b]flock of Hawks[/b] looking for prey? My husband and I were in our yard near the Martin's house and it was so quiet and I happened to look up and seen 10 Hawks circling together in a group.
I have seen at the most 2 Hawks together before but never 10. Has anyone else seen this many Hawks hunting tougher before?
The Martin's must have seen this also because they were all back later after the Hawk's moved on.
Sandie in Texas
HAWKS
Sandie, the only hawk I know of that commonly hunts in groups is the Harris hawk of South Texas and the arid Southwest. But in groups of maybe five or less, not ten.
Hawks DO associated in groups when they are migrating, three are famous doing so in the spring through Texas (group of migrating hawks circling together in an updraft is called a "kettle").
Mississippi Kites are small and have long, pointed wings. They soar in swirling flocks on migration.
Broad-winged hawks are a bit bigger than a pigeon, with broad, rounded wings and tail and a prominent light and dark bands on the tail.
Swainson's hawks are whitish underneath with prominent black flight feathers on the wings. They are large hawks.
All three winter in South America and are thought to feed liittle if at all on migration. The Swainson's hawk travels clear to Argentina, and returns up the eastern slopes of the Andes.
To the best of my knowledge, none of these are known to commonly threaten martins.
Mike Scully
Hawks DO associated in groups when they are migrating, three are famous doing so in the spring through Texas (group of migrating hawks circling together in an updraft is called a "kettle").
Mississippi Kites are small and have long, pointed wings. They soar in swirling flocks on migration.
Broad-winged hawks are a bit bigger than a pigeon, with broad, rounded wings and tail and a prominent light and dark bands on the tail.
Swainson's hawks are whitish underneath with prominent black flight feathers on the wings. They are large hawks.
All three winter in South America and are thought to feed liittle if at all on migration. The Swainson's hawk travels clear to Argentina, and returns up the eastern slopes of the Andes.
To the best of my knowledge, none of these are known to commonly threaten martins.
Mike Scully
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Guest
Certain hawks migrate in large groups called kettles. It may have been just that above you.