Soaring Hawks

The mourning dove noisily took off, flying across my Phoenix yard moments before a hawk appeared close behind in deadly pursuit. Both birds disappeared behind my house without leaving any trace of commotion or hunt, feathers or feasts.

I'm sure it was a Cooper's hawk chasing the dove as this raptor is known to feed on birds and makes frequent appearances on my property. (The hawk has learned that I reliably feed some of the neighborhood birds like cardinals and towhees.) However several hours later and soaring high overhead, a group of three birds of prey, all red-tailed hawks, reminded me that these raptors are actually the most common hawks throughout the state and even the entire continent.

The red-tailed hawk also hunts other birds, but it mostly pursues mammals like voles and mice that it spots from its perch on a power pole or a tall tree. This raptor may also identify prey while flying but the hawks I saw above my home were most likely engaged in some kind of courtship activity. Perhaps two males were competing for the same female, or a juvenile was observing the curious shenanigans of two amorous adults.

I captured a photograph where a bird's legs are extended in a possible attempt to lock talons with his potential mate. This kind of aerial pursuit frequently results in a pair of birds spiraling together to Earth before separating as they near ground. Alas the birds' widening circles at dizzying heights soon took the hawks beyond my visibility so I can't announce any gravity-defying nuptials just yet.