Quick Answer Yes, hawks can and do eat pets, especially small pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and small birds. Larger hawks are capable of attacking and eating cats and small dogs. Protecting pets from hawks involves keeping them indoors or supervised when outside. Do hawks attack pets? Hawks are carnivorous birds of prey that hunt and consume small animals like rodents, rabbits, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. This makes many common household pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and small birds vulnerable to hawk attacks. Larger hawks can also prey on slightly bigger animals like cats and small…
Author: Peter Knight
Geese can be a nuisance in many settings, from public parks to golf courses to backyards. Their droppings can make a mess, and they can be aggressive during nesting season. Some property owners and managers have turned to using fake snakes to try to scare geese away and prevent them from taking up residence. But does this method actually work? Let’s take a look at the evidence. How do fake snakes supposedly deter geese? The idea behind using fake snakes to deter geese is that geese will see the snakes, mistake them for being real, and avoid the area because…
The Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) is a medium-sized songbird found in western North America. It is a migratory species, breeding in the western United States and Canada before migrating south to winter primarily in Mexico. Understanding the migration patterns of birds like the Black-headed Grosbeak can provide important insights into their biology and conservation. Breeding Range The Black-headed Grosbeak breeds in the western half of North America, from southern British Columbia and Alberta southward through the western United States to Baja California, Sonora, and western Texas. Its breeding range reaches east to the western Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.…
The grey owl is a magnificent bird of prey that can be found across Canada, Alaska, and the northern United States. With striking grey and brown plumage and large, bright yellow eyes, the grey owl is a treat for any birdwatcher to spot in the wild. But where are the best places to catch a glimpse of this elusive owl in its natural habitat? Read on for an overview of prime grey owl viewing locations and tips for successful grey owl sightings. About the Grey Owl Before diving into the top places to see the grey owl, let’s go over…
Juncos are small, sparrow-like birds that are common across much of North America. They are known for their gray and white plumage and the fact that they often forage on the ground. Juncos look similar to sparrows, which leads many people to assume they are in the sparrow family. However, juncos actually belong to the family Emberizidae, making them a type of finch rather than a sparrow. What family do juncos belong to? Juncos belong to the family Emberizidae, which consists of small perching birds commonly known as American sparrows, buntings, towhees, and juncos. There are around 300 species in…
Reflective tape, also known as flash tape or bird tape, is designed to scare and deter birds from landing on surfaces. The tape reflects ultraviolet light which birds can see, but humans can’t. This ultraviolet reflection disorients birds and makes them avoid landing on the taped surface. Reflective tape is commonly used to keep birds away from buildings, gardens, boats, and airfields. But does it actually work? Let’s take a closer look at the evidence. How does reflective tape work? Birds have excellent color vision compared to humans. They can see ultraviolet light which allows them to visualize patterns on…
Eagles are large birds of prey that belong to the Accipitridae family. There are over 60 different species of eagles found throughout the world, all of which are known for their keen eyesight and powerful talons that allow them to hunt fish, small mammals and other birds. One of the most recognizable traits of eagles is the loud, piercing cries they make, which can often be heard from great distances. But what exactly are these vocalizations called? Eagles make a variety of different sounds, from soft chirps to loud screaming calls. The specific name given to an eagle’s loud, high-pitched…
Mountain chickadees are small songbirds that live in mountainous regions of western North America. Despite their small size, mountain chickadees face threats from a variety of predators. Understanding the predators that target mountain chickadees can help us better protect these birds. Birds of Prey Birds of prey are a major predator of mountain chickadees. Birds of prey that prey on mountain chickadees include: Sharp-shinned hawks Cooper’s hawks Northern goshawks Merlins Great horned owls Northern pygmy owls Northern saw-whet owls These raptors hunt by stealth, using speed and surprise to catch mountain chickadees. Sharp-shinned hawks and Cooper’s hawks are small, agile…
Birds dance to all kinds of music! While we may not be able to ask birds directly what their favorite tunes are, we can make some educated guesses based on bird behavior and research into birdsong and dance. In the opening paragraphs, I’ll quickly summarize some key points about the types of music birds might boogie to. Birds Have Diverse Musical Tastes There are over 10,000 species of birds, and they live all over the world in different environments. Just like humans, different bird species likely have preferences for different types of music based on their habitat, mating rituals, and…
The North American Water Bird conservation Plan is a comprehensive framework to ensure the long-term protection and conservation of water birds and their habitats across North America. It was developed by various government agencies, conservation organizations, academic institutions, industry groups and other stakeholders in an effort to collaboratively manage and conserve water bird populations. Background Water birds represent a diverse group of species that are ecologically, economically, and culturally important across North America. They include seabirds, coastal water birds, marsh birds, and wading birds that depend on wetland and aquatic habitats for breeding, migrating and wintering. Many of these species…