My free-range flock of American Dominiques (1 male, 5 females), bantam American Dominique (1 male), red jungle fowl (3 female), and American games (1 male, 1 female) are having issues with a red-tailed hawk that took out a red jungle fowl male 2 weeks ago. Lost bird was in habit of ranging towards penned birds away from cover so as to visit with ladies. He paid ultimate price. Red-tailed hawk is having problems of its own with snow cover denying it easy access to its staple of voles so it has been trying at circling and perching in locations where it can take advantage another of flock member wandering from cover of briars and sumac plants. When hawk comes calling flock tightens up and moves directly to heavy cover. Hawk call from roosters is not given but another loud and deep cackle-like call is given by at least one rooster that seems directed at hawk. I wonder if it is a vocal threat display. The larger roosters are in perfect position to take attacking hawk on as the predator may be able to dive into some of cover but will have to walk some distance in order to take off. Roosters will have advantage at that point. No rooster present I think hawk would attempt to flush hens by walking in on foot. If I did not supply feed near cover, flock would have to move to places where hawk would have easy pickens.
Flock also seems able to tell red-tail from harmless red-shouldered hawk which is almost same size. Both hawk species hold territories that encompass my property to these birds seen multiple times daily.
Flock also seems able to tell red-tail from harmless red-shouldered hawk which is almost same size. Both hawk species hold territories that encompass my property to these birds seen multiple times daily.
