What kind of bird is this hunting my babies?

[SquirrelLove]

This bird perches often in our yard hunting our squirrels. Right now he's on my sweet boy C.T's tree and CT is so very friendly I'm worried he's going to get him. Is there any deterrent that I can use to keep these feathered predators away from my squirrel buffet?
Thanks,
Joanne in Jax141019

141020

[Fireweed]

Looks like a Red Shouldered Hawk. Can you shoo it away? Use a broom, swing it wildly at the bird (don't hit him, of course) and make lots of noise like you're a madperson. :D Run around, arms and broom flying. He will get a squirrel if you don't try to make his stay unpleasant. Good luck!

Edit to say that I realize this hawk has enjoyed your yard more than once, but I find the best deterrent to be shaking the tree he's in, yelling, swinging things at him, throwing things at the tree, too. If you catch him often, soon he'll move on because you're messing up his hunting...

[pappy1264]

Looks like a falcon to me (or hawk). I just chase em' out when they come in my yard. I don't know of any deterants to keep them away, maybe someone else has some ideas. Hope CT will be ok!!

[UDoWhat]

It's a hawk!!!!!!!!!!!!! I battle them at my feeders all the time. I know they have to eat too . But not at my feeders. I think maybe a red-shouldered hawk? Not sure but hawk any way!!!

[UDoWhat]

Looks like a Red Shouldered Hawk. Can you shoo it away? Use a broom, swing it wildly at the bird (don't hit him, of course) and make lots of noise like you're a madperson. :D Run around, arms and broom flying. He will get a squirrel if you don't try to make his stay unpleasant. Good luck!

Edit to say that I realize this hawk has enjoyed your yard more than once, but I find the best deterrent to be shaking the tree he's in, yelling, swinging things at him, throwing things at the tree, too. If you catch him often, soon he'll move on because you're messing up his hunting...
:goodpost I do the very same thig with the Red-tails that are in my yard. He will try to get your squirrels if he can. I'm out screaming like a crazy person when I hear and see them. They do leave the area. But they return at times.

[stosh2010]

This a a pic from the Internet-of a Red Shouldered hawk
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Visit Rama Rota (the KING of Costa Rica) at :
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27141&page=299

[Jester]

All of the local sports fields out here have these life-size wooden dog silhouettes to keep birds away. The idea is that the birds see the shape, recognize it as a predator, and stay away. They work surprisingly well for something so simple, not sure how they would do with hawks.

[stepnstone]

It is a Red tail Hawk. Very territorial, very dangerous to your squirrels. They do not like human confrontation so keep interfering with it and it will go elsewhere.

[rozdow]

You may want to check out www.Bird-X.com. They have lots of "devices" for deterring unwanted critters.

[SquirrelLove]

You may want to check out www.Bird-X.com. They have lots of "devices" for deterring unwanted critters.


Thank you for the info, I appreciate it!

[Jackie in Tampa]

I call then Red tailed hawks/..
best to put out dried corn so the crows will feed in your yard...
the crows will keep the hawks away!:thumbsup
not too many birds like the RThawks...so feeding them really does work...
I have seen mocking birds, blue jays and crows battle them!
Some say to put up a fake owl..:dono

Go away...get out mean bird!!!!tinfoil

they are really pretty though!

[Mads]

I have heard that mirrors can be a deterrent with the Hawks. So if your feeding the squirrels, you may want to somehow attach a mirror nearby the feeders to scare the hawk away.
I have never seen any hawk be very successful with squirrels in my yard. I've seen them watching , and flying low, but, I think that a grown squirrel is a bit much for the hawks. this is only what I've seen here in my own yard, and I'm not saying they would not pick up a squirrel, but I think their preferred prey are smaller than squirrels.

They are beautiful birds, and also , from what I've read, they can be very domestic and are great learners in captivity. Even though they shouldn't be in captivity. I have a nesting pair down the road and I watch the male and female raise their youngsters. Much like the owls, the males are very involved in providing food to the female and the babies.