Sharp-shinned Hawk - YOUNG and DUMB

Young raptors aren't very good at hunting. This sharp-shinned hawk is especially inept. Even the squirrels are taunting him.

[@fishpoem1433]

Finally a wildlife home video delivered with a sense of humor. Nice work - and quite entertaining.

[@Bob_Duchesne]

I never did wash the window. The imprint of the dove is still there one year later.

[@fishpoem1433]

@@Bob_Duchesne Next morning after watching this video, a Sharp-shinned hawk smashed into a family room window. Unfortunately, it was a fatal mistake. He left a mark, too. Beautiful animal up close. Luckily, I was able to donate him to a local college. Sad nonetheless.

[@loraalbright1561]

It’s 8:55 am in Pittsburgh PA. I’m watching your video and finding it very helpful. I feel like you’re describing the EXACT sharpie we saw this morning out back! Thank you for your video and your words!😊

[@Bob_Duchesne]

Thanks. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks are by far the most likely to swoop into backyards, especially around feeders. Usually the only real challenge is to tell those two apart. Sounds like you did!

[@puidwen]

To be fair that stick did look a bit like a snake.

[@leobachand8408]

Excellent video!!!

[@timothylabrecque8589]

😂 poor hawk, the chickadees must have been just as confused by the sounds of them

[@Bob_Duchesne]

What was more amusing was that he could hear food calling all around him, but somehow knew - as the chickadees did - that without the element of surprise, he was not going to catch one.

[@mr1pearl]

Rookies are all alike 🙂

[@antlerking69]

Thanks Bob😂

[@yavin99]

I was shocked to see one of these eating one of my juvenile roosters this morning.

[@mb4456]

Y'know, it's no wonder hawks often don't make it to full maturity, because maaannn do the youngin's make some bad decisions like this. I'm very glad there wasn't a terrestrial predator around, otherwise he might have had some trouble. Seems to me like the young ones are also the ones most likely to cause trouble with livestock. I have fewer chicken attacks (knock on wood) when there's a mature couple making the area their territory. I suppose if you're young and dumb and bad at catching things even in summer, the chickens look like easier targets... But they don't take into account the dog that'll damn near bodyslam them. Or the two roosters five times their size. Or the pissed human that just lost a bird to them who is *right there* when they come back looking for the kill (At least *we* won't try to hurt it) I've lost a few good birds to hawks and it sucks majorly, but I *am* glad that we've never had a hawk get injured themselves... Despite how unpredictably stupid their strategies are sometimes.

[@SRTKOVA]

Just saw one being chased by two little birds the size of my pinky thing flew off scared 😂

[@Bob_Duchesne]

Yeah, accipiters rely on stealth. When other birds realize they are present, they are likely to raise the alarm and advise the hawk that the gig is up. No surprise attacks.

[@augthedog55]

What a lovely place to get away from it all!

[@wolv57]

Pooped at the 1:50 mark. ;)

[@Bob_Duchesne]

Yeah, I HAD to keep that in!