Hawks in the city

     For most people who live in the city of Hartford, birdlife in winter often comes in the form of a flock of house sparrows or pigeon.  Like their counterparts in the suburbs, bird lovers in the city will readily embrace their feathered friends by providing both food and water. This has allowed a stable population of birds to remain throughout the winter months.

     These flocks can sometimes garner a great deal of attention due to their substantial numbers and lively feeding. This type of feverish activity has inevitably caught the eyes of many hungry hawks. Species such as Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks have all found success hunting around neighborhood feeders and apartment buildings.

     Just the other morning, as I was shoveling out from another snowstorm, I was startled by the sound of a loud thud against my window. I turned around and caught a quick glimpse of an adult Cooper’s Hawk flying off with a pigeon in its talons. This pigeon had just been chased from a nearby apartment complex. For some, a moment like this doesn’t come around too often. But in Hartford, it’s a weekly occurrence.

Immature Cooper's Hawk

     Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks are forest raptors that feed mainly on small birds. They are characterized by their short-rounded wings, long tails and long legs. Both species are superbly adapted for speed and agility, which is used to chase fast moving prey in tight situations.

     The Red-tailed Hawk is our most common hawk species. They have large, broad wings and short, rounded tails. Red-tailed Hawks are generally slower than the Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawk and are thus less likely to capture a fast flying pigeon, but it does occur from time to time (case in point; at the time of this writing, there was a Red-tailed Hawk sighted on top of the Connecticut Children’s Hospital tearing apart a pigeon).

      Hawks utilize a number of different hunting methods in the city. A large tree is typically used to keep watch of neighborhood feeding stations and known bird roosts. Once a target is located, a tall building or another object is used to conceal its ambush. At the moment of ambush, a hawk will fan out its wings as a way to confuse their prey. This will cause a pigeon or sparrow to fly toward a more susceptible area.   

     In all, a hawk’s survival depends solely on the daily pursuit and capture of prey. Whether it’s on a bustling city street or in the backyard of a three family home, hawks have found an easy and dependable meal right in the heart of downtown Hartford.



Pigeon found hiding under a car