Sharp-shinned Hawk Preying on a Pigeon

This was not the first time I had a chance to spend some time with a Sharp-shinned Hawk as it consumed a pigeon.

Sharp-shinned Hawk with a Pigeon — When I first observed the hawk, it was standing on the pigeon with wings and tail outstretched.

When I first noticed it through a window in the yard south of my house, the hawk was on top with a tight hold, wings spread out (and I imagine providing some stability and balance).

I suspect the pigeon had nearly as much mass (maybe more) than the hawk that was holding it, and the pigeon had some fight left.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Subduing a Pigeon — The pigeon made several efforts to get away by flapping its wings and trying to run. The hawk held on tight and went for the ride, using its own wings to create resistance and maintain some stability.

The pigeon would flap its wings, trying to escape. The hawk held on for the ride.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Predating a Pigeon — When the hawk was resettled after the pigeon’s efforts, it started plucking feathers

When the pigeon stopped flapping the hawk regathered itself. Back on top with wings again spread, if it had a moment, it would start plucking feathers until the pigeon tried again.

In this punctuated fashion, they moved across the yard until they ended up in a corner by the neighbor’s kayaks.

I was standing in the sun, but the hawk and pigeon were in the shade, obscured by shrubs and remains of last year’s grass and fireweed.

Though my view was not as clear, it seemed the hawk getting more seriously into its prey.

Dark-eyed Juncos were cautious about going to the feeder while the hawk was working on the pigeon nearby

The juncos had started to move in the brush pile where they had taken cover. I heard some tentative alarm calls from a couple that perched up where they could see the hawk and pigeon on the ground.

As the hawk continued to focus on the pigeon, the juncos decided it was safe enough to go back to the feeder.

I think the hawk had been on the pigeon for over 30 minutes by this point. The pigeon was well subdued, and I assuming dead. I was a little surprised when it made another effort to get moving.

This brought it and the hawk closer to the feeder, which is several feet off the ground. Their approach caused the juncos to alarm again and take cover.

This time the juncos were more wary (perhaps in part because of my presence closer to the feeder than I had been earlier). After a few minutes they took off to the south.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Eating a Pigeon — Forty minutes after the last effort from the pigeon, feathers have begun to accumulate around the hawk, and it is exposing more flesh.

I left to run a quick errand. In the 15 minutes I was gone, the hawk was still on the pigeon, and the juncos had returned.

Despite the hawk being quite close to the feeder, the juncos went back to feeding.

I did not see the pigeon move again. Over the next hour that I watched, a scattered pile of feathers accumulated as the hawk plucked feathers and stripped meat.

By the time I left, its crop was noticeably bulging, and it had a bit of a glassy-eyed look, perhaps the first signs of an impending food coma.

I would have liked to stay until the end. I was curious if the hawk would fly far off, or just get up to a nearby tree and let the meal start to process a bit before moving on. However, the hawk was not done before I needed to leave.

I had been watching (off and on) for just over 2 hours based on the time I took the first picture and last. I’m not sure how much longer the hawk continued feeding, but I don’t imagine there was too much meat left, so I suspect not long.