thats more of a myth owls dont usually ever go after adult coons its always the yng ones they go after
TALOn it would be wonderful if you could responsd to my question in regards to the red tail predation on great horned owl, Thanks for your time
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whats the largest prey a red tailed hawk has ever taken? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter maersk
- Start date
thats more of a myth owls dont usually ever go after adult coons its always the yng ones they go after
TALOn it would be wonderful if you could responsd to my question in regards to the red tail predation on great horned owl, Thanks for your time
talon_dfa
Well-known member
Sorry I missed this...
I was going to check the status of the Red-tail nest, when the Red-tail alarm calls drew my attention. The owl was very close to the nest on the ground and the Red-tail was diving on it. The owl looked as it had already been stunned, since it wasn't trying to fly away, but "ducked" everytime the red-tail dove. Finally, the Red-tail actually hit and bound to the owl and they both tumbled in the leaf-litter behind a tree. I couldn't see the tussle behind the tree, but they separated almost instantly with the owl going one way and the Red-tail back up toward the nest.
The owl was probably stunned and probably had a few punctures. I did not check then, (Red-tail was stressed enough) but looked later for lost feathers but found none.
Anyway, both had a story to tell and both were probably alive to tell it for some time.
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Several years ago I saw a young harris' hawk bind to a fair sized feral cat in deep snow.The bird weighed a little over 600 grams and the cat was easily three times that weight.
This was a young bird on its first successful flight at prey.
This follows the statements in earlier posts that young raptors will sometimes tackle prey beyond their capability and learn not to try that again (if they are lucky enough to survive).
It should be added that a large redtail or horned owl binding to prey can inflict severe damage in very short order. They tend to key on the head ant those talons find vulnerable points like eye sockets.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Or 'rural' legend?
I'd heard the story of the osprey and the fish. Going back a long while now (I was a kid) but I thought there was something about it at the RSPB loch garten visitor centre in Scotland . . . I even thought I had a memory of a fish skeleton and an osprey skeleton involved? Oh well, maybe I just dreamed it?!
Don't be stupid PLEASE! I just lost my 10 year old 8 1/2 pound female cat to a Red Tailed Hawk. My cat was out in a fenced in yard (Arizona desert environment). I left her out there for probably half an hour and she has vanished without a trace (carried off). No sign of mayhem anyplace and I have scoured the area around here, probably about 10 acres, calling and looking for signs of her. Other feral cats roam around without being hurt. I know this doesn't make sense, but please be careful. It is so painful to lose a pet. All this mythology about hawk’s not taking cats had made me incautious. I had a sense that my cats should not be outside without supervision, but I temporarily ignored it. I did not see the incident but here were three indicators: 1. She vanished without a trace. 2. My other cat was looking skyward. I was so convinced that nothing could hurt her from the air that I didn't even try to see what he was looking at. 3. A Red Tailed Hawk was sitting in a tree looking into my yard when I got back from an outing at 4 PM that day and hawks never hang around my property. THIS OCCURRED AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING. YES, YOUR PETS CAN BE TAKEN OR INJURED FROM THE SKY, ESPECIALLY DURING HAWK MIGRATION. See this link: http://www.gf.state.az.us/w_c/urban_raptors.shtml
Hi hbbird1,
I'm sorry to hear about your losing your cat.
I'd be slow however to assume that a Red Tail was the cause, simply because that bird weighs 2 pounds tops and cannot lift several times its own weight. An eagle might have the strength, but not a Red Tail.
You note that the cat was not visible on your property and you heard no noise of a fight or saw any sign of a struggle.
The simplest answer may be that your cat had an attack of wanderlust, maybe brought on by spring hormones. If so, you may expect it back in about a week at the outside. Please keep us posted.
I'm sorry to hear about your losing your cat.
I'd be slow however to assume that a Red Tail was the cause, simply because that bird weighs 2 pounds tops and cannot lift several times its own weight. An eagle might have the strength, but not a Red Tail.
You note that the cat was not visible on your property and you heard no noise of a fight or saw any sign of a struggle.
The simplest answer may be that your cat had an attack of wanderlust, maybe brought on by spring hormones. If so, you may expect it back in about a week at the outside. Please keep us posted.
wow that is the most silly thing i have ever heard a red tail carrying off 10 pounds? not if its life depended on it!! IMPOSSIBLE!
in az coyotes are a huge problem annd will jump a fence to carry away a cat or a dog, i have seen coyotes scale a 8 foot with a duck in its mouth like it was nothing.
u will never see a coyote do this because they are so cunning fast and good at what they do
sad sad sad that u would try to give this protected hawk species a bad name
her cat will not be back ever it is a clear sign of coyote predation i have delt with this before and know the signs
in az coyotes are a huge problem annd will jump a fence to carry away a cat or a dog, i have seen coyotes scale a 8 foot with a duck in its mouth like it was nothing.
u will never see a coyote do this because they are so cunning fast and good at what they do
sad sad sad that u would try to give this protected hawk species a bad name
her cat will not be back ever it is a clear sign of coyote predation i have delt with this before and know the signs
indigorock
Registered User
hbbird1, seeing a redtail in a tree hours after your cat disappeared is not evidence that the redtail did it.
I agree with everyone else. There is no way a Red-tailed Hawk could carry off a full-grown cat. The link you provide says nothing relevant on the subject beyond noting that Red-tails will sometimes swoop at humans & animals that get too close to their nests.
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Gary Polliard
songbird
I was golfing with friends and one golfer was lining up a putt. A redtail on a tree took off on a glide and soared eight feet over my freinds head, he putted the ball and never noticed the hawk. The hawk landed on a tree on the other side of the green and my freind made the putt. Watching Nature is one of the benefits of playing golf and sometimes golf gets in the way.
Mark B Bartosik
Well-known member
Well, largest prey item I have seen taken by a Red-tailed Hawk was a big, fat Mallard
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/redtailed_hawk_striking_drowning_and_eating_the_mallard
Other, smaller preys
Squirrel: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/redtailed_hawk_hunting_squirrel
Snakes: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/redtailed_hawk_taking_western_diamondback_rattlesnake, longest prey: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/81032240
Rabbit: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/81032238
And dining on coyote carcass: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73331341, http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73331342
Regards,
Mark
http://www.pbase.com/mbb/redtailed_hawk_striking_drowning_and_eating_the_mallard
Other, smaller preys
Squirrel: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/redtailed_hawk_hunting_squirrel
Snakes: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/redtailed_hawk_taking_western_diamondback_rattlesnake, longest prey: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/81032240
Rabbit: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/81032238
And dining on coyote carcass: http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73331341, http://www.pbase.com/mbb/image/73331342
Regards,
Mark
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