Question for you bird lovers out there

Shouldn't this be lunch?

They sat that way for some time. Neither seemed to notice the other.

Starling and Red-shouldered Hawk.

Red-shouldered Hawks are primarily small mammal and reptile eaters, they only rarely take birds, not having the right flight characteristics to catch other birds in flight. The Starling knows this, knows that it is safe as if the hawk does attack, it can easily evade it. The hawk also knows it, and isn't going to waste energy chasing something it knows it can't catch.

The Starling would be a lot more circumspect if it had been a Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk there.

Resin

Apparently both birds knew more than I did! Thanks!

Their lives depend on knowing things like that! For people, knowing it isn't of life-or-death importance ;-)

Resin

Way back in the early sixties, I worked as a fisheries research scientist in Lowestoft in England and spent one research trip trawling in the North Sea. On one day it was very foggy, and I think it was during migration time, and a huge number of birds descended on the ship. Starlings were far and away the commonest and we had starlings perched three deep on the rail. That is starlings perched on starlings perched on starlings. One raptor (I think it was a kestrel) also arrived on board and sat on the rail shoulder to shoulder with all the starlings. Peace reigned for a time, but at some point the kestrel got hungry and helped itself to a starling. The starlings all took flight, but in a short time they were all back on the rails and sat watching as the kestrel plucked and ate its prey on the deck in front of them!

In a nearby town...we will see the lines filled with starlings & doves and a Red-tailed Hawk there along with them! Apparently full having already had a meal, I presume. :)

What neat info. about the red-shouldered Hawk, Resin. The more I learn about nature, the more I enjoy watching nature's beauties. Thanks.