Red Tail Hawk started screeching constantly

[tjkubota93]

Any idea why a Red Tail Hawk would starting schreeching constantly. We have them around here often, but they are usually quiet. They are cool to watch!

But, we have one that just started screetching all the time for the last couple of days. I'm guessing either it lost it's mate, or something is endangering it's nest. It moves around, which make me suspect it is not something going on with the nest.

Anu idea's?

The hawks that live on our property the babies get to hollering when they start flying ever year. I figured they were just showing out.

I like having them around except I think all the squirrels are small, I'm guessing b/c the hawks and owls and foxes keep them thinned out so there's never any fat ones around.

 

[ning]

Jays can mimic red-tailed hawks really well. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the sounds you're hearing are from them - they do it all the time around here.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I believe that these are the young of the year learning to hunt. The screeching strikes terror causing prey to move rather than to hunker down. Redtail hawks start to pair up around late January and breed by March. Having them around is not a threat to the local rabbits, squirrels and etc. by the way. They are a sign of a healthy ecosystem and eliminate the weak.

Probably the most numerous bird of prey and very adaptive, I get a kick out of watching them take to the round bales for hunting perches prior to the farmers removing the bales from the fields.

 

[comancheflight]

Female

 

[oosik]

I've witnessed hawks screech for two reasons - but not constantly. When something, a rabbit, is holing up under a bush and the hawk wants it to move and when something is bothering its nest. Otherwise, they are usually fairly quiet.

 

[RobertN]

Since '97 or '98

Man, you've been here longer than me. :laughing:

:thumbsup:

 

[Wagtail]

I've witnessed hawks screech for two reasons - but not constantly. When something, a rabbit, is holing up under a bush and the hawk wants it to move and when something is bothering its nest. Otherwise, they are usually fairly quiet.

A third reason would be 'irritable fowl syndrome'.

 

[smstonypoint]

A third reason would be 'irritable fowl syndrome'.

Misquoting John Dennis (1658 - 1734, John Dennis - Wikiquote) -- A man who could make so fowl a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket.

Steve

 

[dmccarty]

Jays can mimic red-tailed hawks really well. I wouldn't be surprised if most of the sounds you're hearing are from them - they do it all the time around here.

For some reason, we don't have many Jays. :confused3: I see one every once in a while and it stands out since we seldom see them. I know the screeching we hear is from the Hawks because we can see them circling and talking. Many times the screeching is when they are really well up in the sky so they must be talking to each other, the breeding couple that is. The lower down screeching seems to be when they are in hunting mode. The fun part is when the hawks are screeching at the Crows and the Crows are crowing at the hawks. I think it would be quieter in the city! :shocked::laughing::laughing::laughing: NOT!

Later,
Dan