How to deal with hawks in the yard?

[casportpony]

Hawk pictured appears to be an immature accipiter of some sort. Not a Peregrine Falcon.

Looks a lot like the one that visits her every day.

 

[casportpony]

Good so many on here are wanting to protect their birds, but not fast to shoot etc BOPs just for hanging around and actually not getting their birds.

Hawks come by here every day. The one smaller one, a trio of red tails, and this one, which someone said might be a red-shouldered hawk?

 

[Folly's place]

How big is it? I have to get out the bird book, often. Mary

 

[casportpony]

How big is it? I have to get out the bird book, often. Mary

It was about the size of the red tails?

Disclaimer: I know zero about birds of prey, so am open to hearing about what it might be.

 

[casportpony]

I'm betting that most of your raptors are of the Coopers hawk, and Sharp Shinned hawk variety. Both of these hawks subsist mainly on song birds, bantam, and juvenile chickens. That is why they are classified as "Chicken" hawks along with the larger Red Tail hawk.

This explains a lot! Yesterday I noticed that the area the hawk was in also had a bunch of finches, so the hawk was probably hunting finches, not my chickens!

 

[Folly's place]

I think it is a Red-shouldered hawk, and should be just slightly smaller than the Red- tailed. Mary

 

[casportpony]

I think it is a Red-shouldered hawk, and should be just slightly smaller than the Red- tailed. Mary

Thanks!
This is what I think is a Red Tailed Hawk?

Edited to add: Complete novice, so please correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, what a handsome bird! Mary

 

[casportpony]

Yes, what a handsome bird! Mary

Thanks! I really do enjoy watching them when they come around. Sure, I've lost a few chicks/ducklings, but they leave the bigger birds alone.

 

[Folly's place]

If I only had big birds, they would be less attractive to the hawks. But I love the banties too! We just deal with it. Right now the flock is locked in, because of a likely hawk attack Saturday. One bantam hen gone, everyone else hiding in the coop and barn. Mary