I don't doubt for a second that this video, and the cameraman's assessmet of the situation, are authentic. As he said, that's what makes the video incredible--the fact that this scenario is so atypical. But nature colors outside of the lines more than you think. I once saw a video taken my a motion-sensing camera of a whitetail buck eating bird eggs from a low-lying nest. No joke. If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that just about anything is possible.
@lucas2718 Agreed. A biologist documented a deer killing and eating a fish, too. I've been hissed at by a bear, twice, on two different evenings. An ornithologist told me that he observed a kite that ate nothing but bats (I think he wrote his doctoral dissertation on it). If you want to see a smaller bird killing a larger bird, you can watch a peregrine killing a redtail here on youtube. And I've seen a redtail kill and fly off with a groundhog that outweighed the hawk over 3x.
@carnivalwrestler I saw an eagle pick up a fawn that was much larger then the eagle. It ended up dropping the fawn on a telephone wire ,, crazy, those birds are very powerful
@lucas2718 Animals will do strange things in time of hunger. I have a book about African Grey parrots suggesting that they may scavenge in the wild, and the bare skin around their eyes is to prevent carrion from sticking to their face! And they say the great horned owl will eat red tailed hawks on occasion, I'd love to see that battle, whew.
@lucas2718 This was the whole reason for me posting this video, because it was so incredibly unbelievable that if I hadn't have seen it with my own two eyes, I would have not believed it.
I just read through a bunch of these troll comments, and I would just love to know... What is that guys problem? Maybe we can all just agree that since theres "no" way that a video camera could have possibly captured a starving bird eating a larger bird, and everything that the person who set up a feeding area to watch birds says is fake, all we have here is a case of a troll, dressed up like an owl, killing a bigger bird, just to give that pathetic basehead something to bitch about... XD!
@Jayman5273 looks like a screech owl too me u can see the tufts at 33-39 and if it isnt a screech owl then what is it? lol yah its a screech owl its too small to be anything different if nothing else
umad that owl owned that hawk lololololololol get owned that owl is on a kill streak
@andysj531 It absolutely was. I watched through binoculars as the cameras were filming. We had been videoing two pairs of Pileated woodpeckers earlier in the day, then the drama really intensified. The Sharpie came in first and hung around for nearly an hour until BAM, his whole world changed for the worse! Wonders never cease.
wow amazing.. I didnt know that screech owls can kill hawks because i know that great horned owls do kill and eat certain types of hawks but never had an idea that screech owls did as well, wow thats cool to know. nice video... =D
Screech owls are very aggressive, and will take whatever they can. I had one smack hard into my RT hawk in my backyard. Whack! and then just continued on.
A non- expert, observation. This owl CAN'T lift this hawk. It is trying to, but barely gets it off the ground by springing up and flapping it's wings, so it drags it along the snow instead. Do you guys watch the videos before starting the argument? ;0)
Crows will mob anything that presents a threat to their own lives or is a potential threat to their young or eggs, irrespective of size.
Awesome footage of Eastern Screech owl with a sharp shinned hawk! The identification for both birds is completely verified at 1:04. Not a Cooper's hawk for certain - see the nice square corner on the tail. Screech owl easily ID'd from the facial pattern at the same spot in the film. Very interesting footage.
i was talking to my neighbor till after dark yesterday ;this morning in the exactly same clear spot ( accept for the tree )i found a newly killed red shoulder hawk. It's head missing and its wing shoulder broken. I am a taxidermist and after examining it i knew another raptor had killed it. My area is lousy with several different type of owl! I,myself, know of nothing else that could have killed this hawk. It's mate( i presume) has been flying overhead all morning screeching .
Seriously? Owls own hawks. Just because they get no publicity don't count them out. I've seen owls snatch cats from fences like they were paper dolls.
Absolutely a Screech Owl and absolutely a Sharp-shinned Hawk!! Screech Owls are small but quite Powerful for their size and can overcome a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Besides, the video is plenty clear to see these birds are obviously identified correctly.
If you are going to "correct" people who kindly post videos, at least be right! If you are a novice yourself, you'd be best to refrain from acting like an expert.
Jerry Liguori - Author, "Hawks From Every Angle", "Hawks at a Distance"
Cool video. Looks like it could be an Eastern Screech Owl to me. Using the zoom on the camera would make it look larger. An adult male Sharp-shinned only weighs 3-4 oz. (85-115 g)[no bigger than an American Kestrel] while an adult screech owl would weigh in at at least 7 oz. (over 200 g). Was it a male Sharpie, Susan? A female would be about the same weight as the owl.
I thought the video was an interesting display of agression. Here we have to humans going at, oh, let's say like a Eastern Screech Owl vs. a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Lighten up folks. I'm sure this was meant to be an attempt to just share some very interesting footage.
a screech owl taking out a hawk? wow! i volunteer at a rescue centre for wildlife. the first raptor i handled was a screech owl, it was tiny. we have hawks now too, and to think that tiny thing killed a massive hawk? even the juveniles are big! how big are both the birds in the vid?
Oh yeah, that and the fact that crows are mobbing is correct that an owl is in the are. But not a screech owl. Crows are even bigger than sharpies and are not afraid of ESOW's b/c they do not attack them. Great Horned's do attack crows which is why crows mob them. There have been multiple occasions when I have heard a mob of crows, walked over and either seen a GHOW or seen a decapitate crow. GH's are the only birds of prey to demonstrate that behavior and is the classical sign a GHOW is around.
@Jayman5273 wow. the fact that you blame somebody else for being defensive is quite ironic, considering your coming across extremely aggressive. i dont care how much you know about birds, or whether your right or wrong, but how about coming across a little less like a show off? im not even going to get into the points where you sounds just flat out rude....
Based on the stature this bird carries, and other small characteristics such as wing pattern a coloration or tail feathers it's a Barred Owl. The only minute possibility if it is not a GHOW, the only other thing it could be is a short eared based on when it looks towards you at 0:59. Reason for this is that half the chest is one color (white) and the other half is a different (brown). Screeches are all gray and would show up even on that low resolution camera. We're only human and make mistakes
The camera alone isn't credible. Never in my career have I heard of a screech owl killing & consuming another Raptor. They hunt things that are minute compared to them for a reason insects & earthworms being a majority of their diet, that's right it's b/c it's much more energy efficient to catch something smaller than you & faster to consume, as you should know kills are quickly fought for if left in open. Trust me w/ this, the institution I work for has world renown reputation with birds.
@Jayman5273 While I do appreciate your expertise and experience, I will have to, once again state with absolute confidence that the attacker WAS an Eastern Screech Owl. I am very adept at identifying owls in our area, and there are not that many than can be confused with each other in this part of Michigan. The very reason this video was posted here on YouTube was the fact it was such an unusual occurance. The video has been examined by our local bird experts who back up my identification.
@susankayzee25 That is indeed an Eastern Screech Owl - Red Phase from what the video reveals. I know how aggressive these birds can be and they have been known to attack other raptors as well. After weeks of communication with Cornell labs of ornithology - exchanging information and photographs that I was able to take, etc - (and after being attacked by a small red-phase male) I'm quite well versed on Eastern Screech Owls as they still nest in my back yard in Sarasota Florida!
@Jayman5273 While screech owls may occasionally eat some insects, their main diet are mice, moles, and occasionally birds. According to the University of PA. Insects and earthworms and certainly NOT 'the majority of their diet' at all.
@Jayman5273 - Ok so in the dead of winter - when food isn't as abundant and little insects or earthworms. I know from studying other ecosystems animals do extreme things to survive in extreme situations. For example, I know Lions don't attack full grown Bull Giraffes, as one kick to he face is death - yet if during the dry season and food is scarce then a Lion will take that risk for survival. Perhaps this is analogous with that. An owl taking the necessary risk for survival.
@Jayman5273 animals do unusual things from time to time. I watched a hawk take out a hummingbird.. also praying mantis eat hummingbirds also. Strange to think an insect would eat a bird. But if an animal is hungry enough it will kill. I didnt witness it but perhaps the hawk was dying or was about to die.
@Jayman5273 Not sure what institution you work for, but they taught you wrong. This is known to happen and quite rare to see a screech owl take down a hawk. the hawk looks to be a Night Hawk in looks and size which is similar, to smaller than the owl. Those owls are known to eat mice, moles, voles, and other smaller animals as well, not just worms and the such as you described. Your institution either does not exist, or they are not a known institute in the states(my expert opinion).
on the East Coast. Or even a Townsend's Warbler out here. Point is, I looked like a fool and then realized ha wow mistake, whoops, my bad, you're right I'm wrong, now I know for next time. It just frustrates me when you shoot everyone down so quickly and don't consider, there are many people who do that b/c they have too much pride or something to prove. I'd love to know what type of bino's you used to ID all this because from 40' with both birds deep in snow I probably wouldn't be able to.
well we won't go there. But really, it's OK to admit our mistakes. I mean when it comes down to it, it's just one ID to one measly owl in one small town. The point is you're not taking anyones suggestions and becoming defensive & almost hostile towards peoples suggestions. I mean a few dozen people can't be wrong. When i first started We all make mistakes, especially w/ bird ID cause there are so many species that look so similar. When I first started birding I thought I saw a Clark's Grebe
**nearly twice its weight**. I mean if the strongest and most feared owl, ya know the GHOW (someone of your stature I assume knows banding codes) cannot lift its owl body weight, how can one of the worlds smallest accomplish at least its own weight if not more? How can you properly ID it's a Sharpie? Can't tell from the video, same with eye color there is no hint of yellow and the facial disc is too big. If that size of an owl is 40ft away & 6" then you just made my world b/c that means
@Jayman5273 I identified the hawk as a Sharpie because he was perched in the tree, facing fully front to the house, harassing birds at the feeders nearby. I had been watching the hawk through the binoculars throughout the morning. However, the hawk might have been an immature Cooper's Hawk, which certainly would out weigh and out size a Screech Owl.
@Jayman5273 Other than the fact that your wrong, it is clearly a screech owl, you wrong about GHOW too. I would assume someone who knows banding codes would also know that Great horns love skunks, which easily way twice as much. You obviously never worked with a Great horned before and felt the strength behind those wings.
@Dropthetwinky Great Horned owls do eat skunks, but they don't pick them up and fly away with them. Most raptors eat their prey where they kill it. We have Coopers Hawks that make kills at our feeders regularly, and they always sit on the ground or a low branch to pluck & eat the kill.
@Jayman5273 It's humorous how confident and aggressive you are while at the same time being absolutely wrong. You obviously think you're hot stuff for knowing that "GHOW" stands for Great Horned Owl. A toddler can figure that out without knowing the codes. It's readily apparent that the bird being killed is an adult "SSHA" (so you understand which species I'm referring to) and the bird eating it is an "EASO." If you can't tell that...you shouldn't be talking like you are.
Suzie, we need work on our ID skills, from "40ft" away a 7inch screech owl would be much smaller. There are no ear tufts (you know which alters their hearing), the facial disc that Barred Owls & Great Gray's have can be manipulated at angles @ 49 it looks like them but @ no other point does it show. Earlier is a branch of some type b/c only shows on one side. But let me guess, ear tufts are ears right? It is physically impossible for a 5oz screech to lift a 9oz sharpie, that's twice its weight.
@Jayman5273 I can measure the distance and give you exact footage if you like. We did use the zoom on the video cameras, which explains the lack of color and lack of clarity. This owl has it's ear tufts flattened, but they were visible. Barred Owls are HUGE in comparison to Screech Owls, and Sharp-Shinned Hawks compare in both length and weight to a female Screech Owl as you probably already know.
@Jayman5273, twatcched this video a few times, check it at 0:49 and you will see it's flattened ear tuffs. It is definitely a Screech owl. Amazing film footage!
@Jayman5273 Also, SSHA average about 140 grams, when considering both sexes...so even most females would not weigh 9 oz...and I'm sorry, I can't help but be amazingly entertained that you think knowing ear tufts aren't ears makes you an owl ID expert, and yet you think this looks possibly like a barred or great gray??? Really? You have a much more powerful imagination than the rest of us-- trust me, we're all jealous! So is this GGOW eating a Harpy Eagle?
definitely not a barred owl,Barred Owls have black eyes and a black ring around the face.I agree its a Screech Owl.Awesome video!!!Predator vs Predator
Regardless of which type of owl, to be able to see this kind of action in your yard is rewarding. Good job of not disturbing the birds while you recorded!
Did you ever hear the owl call out at any time? If it hooted then it was not a screech owl. If it screeched then your I.D. is backed up. Without having heard at, I would tend to believe you since you were there.
@Jayman5273 You've done the opposite of what you intended. You wanted to impress us all with your knowledge of owls and instead come off looking like a fucking idiot. You are one of those, "take everything literally" people aren't you and live in a world of black and white. You must have difficulty having conversations with people don't you? Susan lives there. Susan was there. 1:24 of shaky video and you know better! Bullshit. PS. Ever hear a Barn Owl? Owl silence is normal yes- but not always.
Amazing! I was wondering whether that could have been a short-eared owl, due to the length of the "ear" tufts & the roundness of the facial discs? I agree that it's definitely not a barred or similar species.
This is clearly an Eastern Screech Owl. EASO exhibit the same facial pattern seen here. Barred Owl would show a more massive chest (and size overall) with pronounced vertical streaks.
- species these are for certain, but the owl appears to me to be more along the lines of perhaps a Barred Owl, which is larger but does not have tufts. I am not familiar with the owl species found in your area. I hate to say it and I'm sorry if this sounds insulting or rough but I honestly think you made a mistake. You sound like an avid bird watcher and I hope you don't take this as anything other than helpful insight or constructive criticism. Thank you.
@Squirreligion The owl didn't fly off with the hawk, it was too big. The owl likely carved it apart & cached it in manageable pieces. Female Screech owls in this area may not out-size the immature Sharp-shinned, but they can outweigh them. It was February, it had been a cold snowy & hungry winter. I think this video shows that owls are incredibly opportunistic and bold. You may not believe my i.d of this bird, but I WATCHED WITH BINOCULARS for 20 minutes or more. From 40 feet away.
@Squirreligion Barred owls run 17 inches, while Sharp-shinned are 9 to 12 inches. Screech owls run 6 to 9 inches. Barred owls have distincitve black eyes, and Screech owls have distinctive yellow eyes. That was one of the factors I used in identification of this species. 20 minutes or more it took the owl to kill the hawk. 20 minutes of a true life and death battle.
@susankayzee25 Be as that may, you describe it as "... saw two large birds locked together spiraling toward the ground." An Eastern Screech Owl is anything but large. It's one of the smallest raptors in the Eastern U.S. All I'm trying to say is something doesn't add up, and there's nothing terrible about being mistaken; we all make mistakes.
@susankayzee25 I keep looking at this owl, and the more I do, the more I feel like it very likely could be an immature (probably female) Great Horned Owl. Thoughts?
@susankayzee25 awesome video. i don't believe its a screech owl either, pause at 0:49, or 1:15. get a good look at the face and then do a search for northern hawk owl. you'll see that's the predator you captured in this vid.
@scuffedthumb that's a very good guess, I forgot about them although her area may be a little out of their range. But there are always the stranglers. I mean heck I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes in NY (not NYC) just a few days ago so it could happen in the case of lost ones. Great idea!!
@Squirreligion Yeah, screech owls are very small and not likely to prey on a sharp shinned, if in fact that is the type of hawk in question. Looks like a Great Gray Owl to me....which are huge...
@Squirreligion I think it's more likely that the person who recorded knows the species, and most likely they had binoculars. Besides, the lighting and quality wasn't good enough to tell the species.
@Squirreligion Actually screech owls, despite small size, actually have other birds on their menu quite often, and if this one had trained well enough on other birds it could have taken down a hawk.
@zalkarn there is a huge huge difference between songbirds and Raptors. Why is it that when you go owling then you have to play your recordings from smallest to largest species? Because the smaller species are much too afraid of the bigger ones. Having a 5" screech going from a chickadee to a sharpie would be like saying to a D-3 caliber football team who dominates that division of football over the years and has the confidence to step it up. They attempt a D-1A school& guess what happens?
- (cont) moths or crickets) and small mammals, such as mice. In very rare circumstances will something like a rat or rabbit be preyed upon, and a Screech Owl is entirely too small to fight off any other species raptor larger than a kestrel, much less best one. As well, Eastern Screech Owls have very distinctive feather tufts on their heads, in the manner of a Great Horned Owl. I know the video is low-quality, but I could not make out any such tufts after several play-throughs. I can't say what-
I'm sorry if I sound like a nay-sayer or anything, but I think this is a honest case of mistaken identity. Having worked with raptors, both species that you name are rather small. A full-grown Eastern Screech Owl is only about 5 inches tall (not including tail length), while a Sharp-Shinned Hawk will never grow over a foot in length. In your description you name the combatants as large birds, which these species most definitely are not. As well, Screech Owls eat primarily insects (such as -
thank you for putting up this video because i am doing research on owls and now i know what they eat and an interesting fact about them if you know more please reply
@mmullen04 Thank you for your opinion. I witnessed this event, have very good identification skills and are very familiar with local species. As the video recorded this event 40 feet from my window, I watched through binoculars. Against the white snow, there was NO mistaking the species. Actually I first thought it was a hawk on hawk attack until the bird on top raised his head and looked towards us. So please read information provided before jumping to conclusions. Thank you.
@dellboy177 I agree with you about the element of surprise. And likely the owls ability to camouflage against the trunk of a tree also aided this surprise attack.
Definitely an eastern screech owl. It's cute, spunky, and it's got the little tufts. A long-eared owl would be taller and would have much longer tufts.
I'd be more inclined to walk away from an owl in the bush than a hawk. Hawks need to see a clear advantage or they fuck off. Owls, on the other hand, just need to feel threatened for them to attack.
I have to agree, it does seem the owl is bigger than 8-9".... Heard what turned out to be a screech the other night in the yard, got me interested in learning more about them.. While listening to sound clips, another started calling.. So 2 screeches in the trees around the house.. Guess that explains the lack of squirrels last 2 yrs..Any tips as to what I could bait them with so i can get a look at them?
This video is awesome! My wife and I live in central Florida and just returned from tent camping. We were visited at dusk by a barred owl that seemed very interested in our 15lb dog. The owl looked 18" tall and left, then returned for a second pass. btw. I think it's interesting that viewers of your video feel the need to argue with you over what you saw.
Hello, The Owl in this video doesn't look like an Eastern Screech. I have seen over a dozen and none of them have looked like the owl in your video. This Owl looks more like a long eared Owl which could take out a smaller hawk
Yes, it's hard to believe, but Long Eared Owls usually migrate outta here by that time of year. Had I not witnessed the incident with my very own eyes, I would have a hard time believing it was an Eastern Screech Owl. And it absolutely was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, not a grouse or a robin, or a blue jay. It was a 30 minute fight to the death. I used my binoculars from my window to identify the birds. They were only 40 feet away. My boyfriend took video while I watched.
Hello, I dont believe the Owl in this video to be an Eastern Screech. The Face doesnt look like any Eastern Screech I have ever seen. it looks more like a Long Eared Owl.
Definitely a Screech and definitely a small Accipiter - hear it from a Falconer of 22 years. During the winter months a lots of animals (when food is more scarce) act a little out of character. In the UK Tawny's will take sparrowhawks and kestrels so there;s no reason why a Screech cant take a Sharpie, providing it is caught off guard.
Interesting! That is defineitly an accipiter.There is no way that it could be a Coopershawk;to big an to tenacious for a screech to even comtemplate,in fact the roles would be reversed.That being said,a sharpie being the only smaller accipiter in NA fits the banded tail.I had to look at this vid more than 10 times because I just couldnt beleive it! It seems out of character for a screech to be doing this,but there is nothing else it could be!Good vid from a falconer whos handled both speices.
Screech owls are fierce. One popped my red-tail while the hawk was on my fist. He just kept going, and the hawk shrugged it off. A sharp-shin is a tiny hawk, and I could see a male falling prey to a screech owl.
Everyone doubting the fact an owl could take down a hawk is nuts. Those things are fierce, I got attacked by one while out on a run in December... easily the most terrifying moment of my life considering the strength of their talons.
I haven't been able to run near any wooded area since then.
people underestimate owls and overestimate hawks. male sharp-shinned hawks (like this one in the video) are small weak hawks that feed on chickadee sized birds, their talons are weak and they are very swift and agile but not strong. Owls are "ruffer" and sturdier, this video makes perfect sense (though I do agree it's a rare sight!)
I was a little surprised to hear it was a screech owl. They are so small and look adorable but looks can be deceiving. They're very close in size to the burrowing owls that live in my back yard. I once found a dead blue jay at the burrow entrance. It had been harrassing the owls for days. I knew it was pushing it's luck. Owls are extremely strong predators.
I was a little surprised to hear it was a screech owl. They are so small and look adorable but looks can be deceiving. They're very close in size to the burrowing owls that live in my back yard. I once found a dead blue jay at the burrow entrance. It had been harrassing the owls for days. I knew it was pushing it's luck. Owls are extremely strong predators.
I think you got really good footag. It's not like you can plan it, go out get the right equipment and lighting and set up. LOL. All you can do in such a rare moment is push the record button and hope for the best. Thanks for taking the time to film and post it.
my girl is a falconer ive been learning a bit about them thru her and when theres snow on the ground its harder for them to find food so owls hawks and eagles will go for things they would normally avoid
No Robins here in February. I guess you missed the part where I commented how I was an EYEWITNESS to the event. It is an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk. I promise!!
Good story, I just don't see an owl taking down a hawk. Baby or not. They are some of the best predators in the area. A little screech owl would get destroyed by a hawk. There are a few birds that kind of look like a sharp-shinned hawk that you might have mistaken it for.
@coryboy345 What bird, in your opinion, do you think that owl is sitting upon. Please note the fairly long and banded tail. Also note the time of year and location. I would love to hear your thoughts, and let us all know how many years you've been an avid birdwatcher... please!
Well considering the video is of such low quality, I can't be for sure but it could be a few types of birds. I'd guess it's a Dark-Eyed Junco given it's colors. Has a white belly with dark back and tail with black stripes going across the tail. They are also about the size of a fully grown Screech Owl.
Who knows, you could be right and it could of been an injured baby Hawk. But a healthy Hawk, baby or not, would destroy a Screech Owl. Just common sense if you know birds.
SICK!! Nature is so no holds barred. Kick ass nature! Kick ass.
LilMissWampyre 2 days ago
what a video! it must have been amazing to experience to see this. did you see the owl catch the hawk?
frenchtoast161 3 days ago
I think you shot it and then the owl came in to eat.
tarxantoo 1 week ago
I don't doubt for a second that this video, and the cameraman's assessmet of the situation, are authentic. As he said, that's what makes the video incredible--the fact that this scenario is so atypical. But nature colors outside of the lines more than you think. I once saw a video taken my a motion-sensing camera of a whitetail buck eating bird eggs from a low-lying nest. No joke. If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that just about anything is possible.
lucas2718 1 month ago 3
@lucas2718 Agreed. A biologist documented a deer killing and eating a fish, too. I've been hissed at by a bear, twice, on two different evenings. An ornithologist told me that he observed a kite that ate nothing but bats (I think he wrote his doctoral dissertation on it). If you want to see a smaller bird killing a larger bird, you can watch a peregrine killing a redtail here on youtube. And I've seen a redtail kill and fly off with a groundhog that outweighed the hawk over 3x.
carnivalwrestler 4 weeks ago
@carnivalwrestler I saw an eagle pick up a fawn that was much larger then the eagle. It ended up dropping the fawn on a telephone wire ,, crazy, those birds are very powerful
ancientswordfighters 3 weeks ago
@lucas2718 Animals will do strange things in time of hunger. I have a book about African Grey parrots suggesting that they may scavenge in the wild, and the bare skin around their eyes is to prevent carrion from sticking to their face! And they say the great horned owl will eat red tailed hawks on occasion, I'd love to see that battle, whew.
MPSecare 2 weeks ago
@lucas2718 This was the whole reason for me posting this video, because it was so incredibly unbelievable that if I hadn't have seen it with my own two eyes, I would have not believed it.
susankayzee25 1 week ago
All the critics are right. There's clearly no way that's a small owl, as the camera shows. It's actually Sasquatch in an owl suit.
YouTube wins again!
EntropicMisanthropic 1 month ago
I just read through a bunch of these troll comments, and I would just love to know... What is that guys problem? Maybe we can all just agree that since theres "no" way that a video camera could have possibly captured a starving bird eating a larger bird, and everything that the person who set up a feeding area to watch birds says is fake, all we have here is a case of a troll, dressed up like an owl, killing a bigger bird, just to give that pathetic basehead something to bitch about... XD!
thezephyrlynx719 1 month ago
@Jayman5273 looks like a screech owl too me u can see the tufts at 33-39 and if it isnt a screech owl then what is it? lol yah its a screech owl its too small to be anything different if nothing else
umad that owl owned that hawk lololololololol get owned that owl is on a kill streak
Antioxidantt 1 month ago
This is an awesome record of an extremely bizarre behavior! Nice work, must have been a treat to watch!
andysj531 3 months ago
@andysj531 It absolutely was. I watched through binoculars as the cameras were filming. We had been videoing two pairs of Pileated woodpeckers earlier in the day, then the drama really intensified. The Sharpie came in first and hung around for nearly an hour until BAM, his whole world changed for the worse! Wonders never cease.
susankayzee25 1 week ago
wow amazing.. I didnt know that screech owls can kill hawks because i know that great horned owls do kill and eat certain types of hawks but never had an idea that screech owls did as well, wow thats cool to know. nice video... =D
Godoy0103 3 months ago
Comment removed
Godoy0103 3 months ago
Wow..I would assume the hawk would stand a better chance since most owls swallow food whole.
SecretSword 4 months ago
Screech owls can, and do, take prey their own size or larger. Pygmy owls, hardly bigger than a sparrow, have been known to kill gophers.
Hako2004 4 months ago
Screech owls are very aggressive, and will take whatever they can. I had one smack hard into my RT hawk in my backyard. Whack! and then just continued on.
chuckr1951 4 months ago
Like a boss
SombreroKing100 5 months ago
A non- expert, observation. This owl CAN'T lift this hawk. It is trying to, but barely gets it off the ground by springing up and flapping it's wings, so it drags it along the snow instead. Do you guys watch the videos before starting the argument? ;0)
Crows will mob anything that presents a threat to their own lives or is a potential threat to their young or eggs, irrespective of size.
stroke4711 5 months ago
Awesome footage of Eastern Screech owl with a sharp shinned hawk! The identification for both birds is completely verified at 1:04. Not a Cooper's hawk for certain - see the nice square corner on the tail. Screech owl easily ID'd from the facial pattern at the same spot in the film. Very interesting footage.
randomxyz3 5 months ago
Sharp skinned love chasing small birds and bloodying up the snow after a kill. Great footage as hunter becomes prey.
optionnn30 5 months ago
i was talking to my neighbor till after dark yesterday ;this morning in the exactly same clear spot ( accept for the tree )i found a newly killed red shoulder hawk. It's head missing and its wing shoulder broken. I am a taxidermist and after examining it i knew another raptor had killed it. My area is lousy with several different type of owl! I,myself, know of nothing else that could have killed this hawk. It's mate( i presume) has been flying overhead all morning screeching .
mike97431 5 months ago
@mike97431 Do you have peregrines around?
jerrygreg2 5 months ago
He keeps checking for witnesses and he shuld at least treat the body with some respect
ZombieMindGirl 5 months ago
The owl just finished reading Macbeth
havlorech 6 months ago
1:05 Owl looks around to see if there are any witnesses to his murderous deed! haha
JusanothaUtuba 6 months ago
Seriously? Owls own hawks. Just because they get no publicity don't count them out. I've seen owls snatch cats from fences like they were paper dolls.
leevum1 6 months ago
I don't think that was a hawk, hawks are faster deadlier and badass, looks like more like a crow.
MyAlbert1986 6 months ago
Absolutely a Screech Owl and absolutely a Sharp-shinned Hawk!! Screech Owls are small but quite Powerful for their size and can overcome a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Besides, the video is plenty clear to see these birds are obviously identified correctly.
If you are going to "correct" people who kindly post videos, at least be right! If you are a novice yourself, you'd be best to refrain from acting like an expert.
Jerry Liguori - Author, "Hawks From Every Angle", "Hawks at a Distance"
JerryLiguori 6 months ago
Cool video. Looks like it could be an Eastern Screech Owl to me. Using the zoom on the camera would make it look larger. An adult male Sharp-shinned only weighs 3-4 oz. (85-115 g)[no bigger than an American Kestrel] while an adult screech owl would weigh in at at least 7 oz. (over 200 g). Was it a male Sharpie, Susan? A female would be about the same weight as the owl.
littleJohnnydarter 7 months ago
the hawk was more than likley injured in some way. screech owls, dont have sharp tallons, i play with them alot.
cjiswhite1 7 months ago
I thought the video was an interesting display of agression. Here we have to humans going at, oh, let's say like a Eastern Screech Owl vs. a Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Lighten up folks. I'm sure this was meant to be an attempt to just share some very interesting footage.
gunnyusmcret 7 months ago
Owls don't get nearly enough credit for being badasses.
spankula123 7 months ago
Nature is so amazing...
gblueslover2 7 months ago
a screech owl taking out a hawk? wow! i volunteer at a rescue centre for wildlife. the first raptor i handled was a screech owl, it was tiny. we have hawks now too, and to think that tiny thing killed a massive hawk? even the juveniles are big! how big are both the birds in the vid?
abhiginimav 8 months ago
lol long nerdy comments
corndogman221 8 months ago
Oh yeah, that and the fact that crows are mobbing is correct that an owl is in the are. But not a screech owl. Crows are even bigger than sharpies and are not afraid of ESOW's b/c they do not attack them. Great Horned's do attack crows which is why crows mob them. There have been multiple occasions when I have heard a mob of crows, walked over and either seen a GHOW or seen a decapitate crow. GH's are the only birds of prey to demonstrate that behavior and is the classical sign a GHOW is around.
Jayman5273 8 months ago
@Jayman5273 2 words. shut up.
abhiginimav 8 months ago
@Jayman5273 wow. the fact that you blame somebody else for being defensive is quite ironic, considering your coming across extremely aggressive. i dont care how much you know about birds, or whether your right or wrong, but how about coming across a little less like a show off? im not even going to get into the points where you sounds just flat out rude....
abhiginimav 8 months ago
Based on the stature this bird carries, and other small characteristics such as wing pattern a coloration or tail feathers it's a Barred Owl. The only minute possibility if it is not a GHOW, the only other thing it could be is a short eared based on when it looks towards you at 0:59. Reason for this is that half the chest is one color (white) and the other half is a different (brown). Screeches are all gray and would show up even on that low resolution camera. We're only human and make mistakes
Jayman5273 8 months ago
The camera alone isn't credible. Never in my career have I heard of a screech owl killing & consuming another Raptor. They hunt things that are minute compared to them for a reason insects & earthworms being a majority of their diet, that's right it's b/c it's much more energy efficient to catch something smaller than you & faster to consume, as you should know kills are quickly fought for if left in open. Trust me w/ this, the institution I work for has world renown reputation with birds.
Jayman5273 8 months ago
@Jayman5273 While I do appreciate your expertise and experience, I will have to, once again state with absolute confidence that the attacker WAS an Eastern Screech Owl. I am very adept at identifying owls in our area, and there are not that many than can be confused with each other in this part of Michigan. The very reason this video was posted here on YouTube was the fact it was such an unusual occurance. The video has been examined by our local bird experts who back up my identification.
susankayzee25 8 months ago 13
@susankayzee25 That is indeed an Eastern Screech Owl - Red Phase from what the video reveals. I know how aggressive these birds can be and they have been known to attack other raptors as well. After weeks of communication with Cornell labs of ornithology - exchanging information and photographs that I was able to take, etc - (and after being attacked by a small red-phase male) I'm quite well versed on Eastern Screech Owls as they still nest in my back yard in Sarasota Florida!
Bassistdan1 5 months ago
@Jayman5273 While screech owls may occasionally eat some insects, their main diet are mice, moles, and occasionally birds. According to the University of PA. Insects and earthworms and certainly NOT 'the majority of their diet' at all.
davids11131113 7 months ago
@davids11131113 Correct me if I am wrong, but Owls generally don't feast on carrion either, right?
So it WOULD be that Owl's kill...
(i don't know if people were debating that or not, I'd just (a) like to point it out, or (b) be educated otherwise if I am wrong)
:)
DMCFreak 5 months ago
@Jayman5273 Ya, and humans aren't shark prey lmaooooooo.
mikedavis5671 6 months ago
@Jayman5273 Douchebag.
E5CAPEGOAT 6 months ago
@Jayman5273 - Ok so in the dead of winter - when food isn't as abundant and little insects or earthworms. I know from studying other ecosystems animals do extreme things to survive in extreme situations. For example, I know Lions don't attack full grown Bull Giraffes, as one kick to he face is death - yet if during the dry season and food is scarce then a Lion will take that risk for survival. Perhaps this is analogous with that. An owl taking the necessary risk for survival.
ChiefsBulls587 3 months ago
@Jayman5273 animals do unusual things from time to time. I watched a hawk take out a hummingbird.. also praying mantis eat hummingbirds also. Strange to think an insect would eat a bird. But if an animal is hungry enough it will kill. I didnt witness it but perhaps the hawk was dying or was about to die.
ancientswordfighters 1 month ago
@ancientswordfighters theres spiders that eat birds yo
MPSecare 3 weeks ago
@MPSecare ugh,,, 0_0
ancientswordfighters 3 weeks ago
@ancientswordfighters Look up Goliath Bird Eating Terrantula
MPSecare 3 weeks ago
@Jayman5273 also sharp shinned hawks arent much bigger then a blue jay
ancientswordfighters 1 month ago
@Jayman5273 Not sure what institution you work for, but they taught you wrong. This is known to happen and quite rare to see a screech owl take down a hawk. the hawk looks to be a Night Hawk in looks and size which is similar, to smaller than the owl. Those owls are known to eat mice, moles, voles, and other smaller animals as well, not just worms and the such as you described. Your institution either does not exist, or they are not a known institute in the states(my expert opinion).
ScyberPsylock 1 week ago
on the East Coast. Or even a Townsend's Warbler out here. Point is, I looked like a fool and then realized ha wow mistake, whoops, my bad, you're right I'm wrong, now I know for next time. It just frustrates me when you shoot everyone down so quickly and don't consider, there are many people who do that b/c they have too much pride or something to prove. I'd love to know what type of bino's you used to ID all this because from 40' with both birds deep in snow I probably wouldn't be able to.
Jayman5273 8 months ago
well we won't go there. But really, it's OK to admit our mistakes. I mean when it comes down to it, it's just one ID to one measly owl in one small town. The point is you're not taking anyones suggestions and becoming defensive & almost hostile towards peoples suggestions. I mean a few dozen people can't be wrong. When i first started We all make mistakes, especially w/ bird ID cause there are so many species that look so similar. When I first started birding I thought I saw a Clark's Grebe
Jayman5273 8 months ago
**nearly twice its weight**. I mean if the strongest and most feared owl, ya know the GHOW (someone of your stature I assume knows banding codes) cannot lift its owl body weight, how can one of the worlds smallest accomplish at least its own weight if not more? How can you properly ID it's a Sharpie? Can't tell from the video, same with eye color there is no hint of yellow and the facial disc is too big. If that size of an owl is 40ft away & 6" then you just made my world b/c that means
Jayman5273 8 months ago
@Jayman5273 I identified the hawk as a Sharpie because he was perched in the tree, facing fully front to the house, harassing birds at the feeders nearby. I had been watching the hawk through the binoculars throughout the morning. However, the hawk might have been an immature Cooper's Hawk, which certainly would out weigh and out size a Screech Owl.
susankayzee25 8 months ago 4
@Jayman5273 Other than the fact that your wrong, it is clearly a screech owl, you wrong about GHOW too. I would assume someone who knows banding codes would also know that Great horns love skunks, which easily way twice as much. You obviously never worked with a Great horned before and felt the strength behind those wings.
Dropthetwinky 5 months ago
@Dropthetwinky Great Horned owls do eat skunks, but they don't pick them up and fly away with them. Most raptors eat their prey where they kill it. We have Coopers Hawks that make kills at our feeders regularly, and they always sit on the ground or a low branch to pluck & eat the kill.
tcanders123 2 weeks ago
@Jayman5273 It's humorous how confident and aggressive you are while at the same time being absolutely wrong. You obviously think you're hot stuff for knowing that "GHOW" stands for Great Horned Owl. A toddler can figure that out without knowing the codes. It's readily apparent that the bird being killed is an adult "SSHA" (so you understand which species I'm referring to) and the bird eating it is an "EASO." If you can't tell that...you shouldn't be talking like you are.
andysj531 3 months ago
Suzie, we need work on our ID skills, from "40ft" away a 7inch screech owl would be much smaller. There are no ear tufts (you know which alters their hearing), the facial disc that Barred Owls & Great Gray's have can be manipulated at angles @ 49 it looks like them but @ no other point does it show. Earlier is a branch of some type b/c only shows on one side. But let me guess, ear tufts are ears right? It is physically impossible for a 5oz screech to lift a 9oz sharpie, that's twice its weight.
Jayman5273 8 months ago
@Jayman5273 I can measure the distance and give you exact footage if you like. We did use the zoom on the video cameras, which explains the lack of color and lack of clarity. This owl has it's ear tufts flattened, but they were visible. Barred Owls are HUGE in comparison to Screech Owls, and Sharp-Shinned Hawks compare in both length and weight to a female Screech Owl as you probably already know.
susankayzee25 8 months ago 2
@Jayman5273, twatcched this video a few times, check it at 0:49 and you will see it's flattened ear tuffs. It is definitely a Screech owl. Amazing film footage!
PantheraAtrox 6 months ago
@Jayman5273 Also, SSHA average about 140 grams, when considering both sexes...so even most females would not weigh 9 oz...and I'm sorry, I can't help but be amazingly entertained that you think knowing ear tufts aren't ears makes you an owl ID expert, and yet you think this looks possibly like a barred or great gray??? Really? You have a much more powerful imagination than the rest of us-- trust me, we're all jealous! So is this GGOW eating a Harpy Eagle?
andysj531 3 months ago
@Jayman5273 Talk down to others much? You can discuss things politely can't you, without being so condescending? Try it.
lifeistruelyabsurd 1 month ago
Bad day to go to battle.
siryjvovk 8 months ago
I HATE birds of prey. Lucky Owl!
marxandkirbyrocks 9 months ago
definitely not a barred owl,Barred Owls have black eyes and a black ring around the face.I agree its a Screech Owl.Awesome video!!!Predator vs Predator
jessejackable 9 months ago
Owls of Ga'hool biatch!
agumon51 9 months ago
which kind of hawk was it, because if it was a strong goshawk or peregrine it would of been the opposite
achrafzahar 9 months ago
How fascinating. That is indeed an eastern screech owl, having seen several come through our center. What an awesome sight to behold!
FreeAgainWildlife 9 months ago
I love when he pokes his head up at 0:31 and he's all like "That is correct. I am boss."
DownOnMyLuck 9 months ago
Screech Owls have ears. This owl doesn't have any. It might be a short eared owl.
AugustusLarch 9 months ago
Comment removed
Jayman5273 8 months ago
there for there are further notices of death
rrdesign44 9 months ago
Mr. Owl, why are you so badass?
jordancond 9 months ago
Looks like the hunter ...
*sunglasses*
... became the hunted!
YEAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
aseglkj 9 months ago
@ hitmonchan: owl is not a bird of prey. He have a own family!!
arnoldvanbreugel 10 months ago
Reminds me of the scene from Macbeth, after they murder Duncan.
shadowbreaker777 10 months ago
that was a sparrow hawk. not a gos hawk.
and maybe he was young =((
amiiir199 10 months ago
PAYBACK!!
TheBAAADKitty 10 months ago 6
That's one bad ass screech owl. The hawk was bigger.
Lassannn 10 months ago
This is an amazing video!
Windinmysails71 10 months ago
Anyway, wow, I never thought I'd see a bird of prey kill another bird of prey.
Hitmonchan107 11 months ago
Noctowl just killed a Pidgeotto?
Hitmonchan107 11 months ago
Regardless of which type of owl, to be able to see this kind of action in your yard is rewarding. Good job of not disturbing the birds while you recorded!
mnwindchill 11 months ago
I once found the remains (bones and feathers) of a screech owl in a sharpshins nest, so I guess it can go both ways depending on circumstances.
snakeman1871 11 months ago
Yea ezlryb! Show that pure one how it's done ;)
Holister951 11 months ago
Did you ever hear the owl call out at any time? If it hooted then it was not a screech owl. If it screeched then your I.D. is backed up. Without having heard at, I would tend to believe you since you were there.
herbiesnerd 11 months ago
@herbiesnerd who cooks for you, who cooks for you allllll lol. Owls rarely make noise, usually only during mating
Jayman5273 8 months ago
@Jayman5273 You've done the opposite of what you intended. You wanted to impress us all with your knowledge of owls and instead come off looking like a fucking idiot. You are one of those, "take everything literally" people aren't you and live in a world of black and white. You must have difficulty having conversations with people don't you? Susan lives there. Susan was there. 1:24 of shaky video and you know better! Bullshit. PS. Ever hear a Barn Owl? Owl silence is normal yes- but not always.
herbiesnerd 8 months ago
Amazing! I was wondering whether that could have been a short-eared owl, due to the length of the "ear" tufts & the roundness of the facial discs? I agree that it's definitely not a barred or similar species.
Murphygrif 11 months ago
Are you sure they aren't two birds making love????
MistyOjaiGirl 1 year ago
thats bad ass :D !
cjiswhite1 1 year ago
well this teaches you something, don't mess with owls or goodbye. your a dead monkey.
pickles77778 1 year ago
@pickles77778 well this teaches youu something don't mess with owls if u do ur a dead monkey.
pickles77778 1 year ago
I've saw a snake swallowing a whole hawk witch wanted to eat the same snake. Hawks are stupid !!!!!!!
harko160 1 year ago
@harko160 THey are actually very intellegent.
magicbirdaustin 1 year ago
This is clearly an Eastern Screech Owl. EASO exhibit the same facial pattern seen here. Barred Owl would show a more massive chest (and size overall) with pronounced vertical streaks.
This is a really cool video!
RaceTheAntelope 1 year ago
Couldn't get a clear look at the face, but yes, maybe Barred Owl as several have said.
esotericjay 1 year ago
Barred Owl.
christc3168 1 year ago
I keep looking at this owl, and the more I do, the more I feel like it very likely could be an immature (probably female) Great Horned Owl. Thoughts?
mjb2137 1 year ago
Can't believe that Hawk could be killed by Owl.
Eganaa1 1 year ago
it's winter time. if it moves it's food.
tomitstube 1 year ago
- species these are for certain, but the owl appears to me to be more along the lines of perhaps a Barred Owl, which is larger but does not have tufts. I am not familiar with the owl species found in your area. I hate to say it and I'm sorry if this sounds insulting or rough but I honestly think you made a mistake. You sound like an avid bird watcher and I hope you don't take this as anything other than helpful insight or constructive criticism. Thank you.
Squirreligion 1 year ago
@Squirreligion The owl didn't fly off with the hawk, it was too big. The owl likely carved it apart & cached it in manageable pieces. Female Screech owls in this area may not out-size the immature Sharp-shinned, but they can outweigh them. It was February, it had been a cold snowy & hungry winter. I think this video shows that owls are incredibly opportunistic and bold. You may not believe my i.d of this bird, but I WATCHED WITH BINOCULARS for 20 minutes or more. From 40 feet away.
susankayzee25 1 year ago 2
@Squirreligion Barred owls run 17 inches, while Sharp-shinned are 9 to 12 inches. Screech owls run 6 to 9 inches. Barred owls have distincitve black eyes, and Screech owls have distinctive yellow eyes. That was one of the factors I used in identification of this species. 20 minutes or more it took the owl to kill the hawk. 20 minutes of a true life and death battle.
susankayzee25 1 year ago
Comment removed
Squirreligion 1 year ago
Comment removed
Squirreligion 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@susankayzee25 Be as that may, you describe it as "... saw two large birds locked together spiraling toward the ground." An Eastern Screech Owl is anything but large. It's one of the smallest raptors in the Eastern U.S. All I'm trying to say is something doesn't add up, and there's nothing terrible about being mistaken; we all make mistakes.
Squirreligion 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@susankayzee25 I keep looking at this owl, and the more I do, the more I feel like it very likely could be an immature (probably female) Great Horned Owl. Thoughts?
mjb2137 1 year ago
@susankayzee25 awesome video. i don't believe its a screech owl either, pause at 0:49, or 1:15. get a good look at the face and then do a search for northern hawk owl. you'll see that's the predator you captured in this vid.
scuffedthumb 9 months ago
@scuffedthumb that's a very good guess, I forgot about them although her area may be a little out of their range. But there are always the stranglers. I mean heck I saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes in NY (not NYC) just a few days ago so it could happen in the case of lost ones. Great idea!!
Jayman5273 8 months ago
@Squirreligion Yeah, screech owls are very small and not likely to prey on a sharp shinned, if in fact that is the type of hawk in question. Looks like a Great Gray Owl to me....which are huge...
esotericjay 1 year ago
@Squirreligion I think it's more likely that the person who recorded knows the species, and most likely they had binoculars. Besides, the lighting and quality wasn't good enough to tell the species.
Skittywolf 11 months ago
@Squirreligion
Not a barred owl. @ 1:12 You can see feather tufts on its head....scops owl ??
6400az 9 months ago
@Squirreligion Actually screech owls, despite small size, actually have other birds on their menu quite often, and if this one had trained well enough on other birds it could have taken down a hawk.
zalkarn 9 months ago
@zalkarn there is a huge huge difference between songbirds and Raptors. Why is it that when you go owling then you have to play your recordings from smallest to largest species? Because the smaller species are much too afraid of the bigger ones. Having a 5" screech going from a chickadee to a sharpie would be like saying to a D-3 caliber football team who dominates that division of football over the years and has the confidence to step it up. They attempt a D-1A school& guess what happens?
Jayman5273 8 months ago
- (cont) moths or crickets) and small mammals, such as mice. In very rare circumstances will something like a rat or rabbit be preyed upon, and a Screech Owl is entirely too small to fight off any other species raptor larger than a kestrel, much less best one. As well, Eastern Screech Owls have very distinctive feather tufts on their heads, in the manner of a Great Horned Owl. I know the video is low-quality, but I could not make out any such tufts after several play-throughs. I can't say what-
Squirreligion 1 year ago
I'm sorry if I sound like a nay-sayer or anything, but I think this is a honest case of mistaken identity. Having worked with raptors, both species that you name are rather small. A full-grown Eastern Screech Owl is only about 5 inches tall (not including tail length), while a Sharp-Shinned Hawk will never grow over a foot in length. In your description you name the combatants as large birds, which these species most definitely are not. As well, Screech Owls eat primarily insects (such as -
Squirreligion 1 year ago
thank you for putting up this video because i am doing research on owls and now i know what they eat and an interesting fact about them if you know more please reply
Ndom777 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
kill or be killed.
southport97 1 year ago
Definitely not a screech owl...do your research before you mis-label something.
mmullen04 1 year ago
@mmullen04 Thank you for your opinion. I witnessed this event, have very good identification skills and are very familiar with local species. As the video recorded this event 40 feet from my window, I watched through binoculars. Against the white snow, there was NO mistaking the species. Actually I first thought it was a hawk on hawk attack until the bird on top raised his head and looked towards us. So please read information provided before jumping to conclusions. Thank you.
susankayzee25 1 year ago 2
could also be that the owls silent wings gave it an element of surprise to pwn the felled hawk
dellboy177 1 year ago
@dellboy177 I agree with you about the element of surprise. And likely the owls ability to camouflage against the trunk of a tree also aided this surprise attack.
susankayzee25 1 year ago 2
@susankayzee25 true that, it is amazing though, one of those rare moments in nature.
dellboy177 1 year ago
Very nice footage of this rarely seen struggle for survival. Thanks for sharing!!
HummersRUs 1 year ago
Definitely an eastern screech owl. It's cute, spunky, and it's got the little tufts. A long-eared owl would be taller and would have much longer tufts.
Intrafacial86 1 year ago
Wow, I've only seen an Eastern Screech Owl doing this to a small bird.
o.O
pokeyjo61 1 year ago
OWNED!!!!!!!
vex270 1 year ago
Man, I can't believe people are arguing with you. It was absolutely an Easter Screech Owl. This is amazing footage. Thanks for posting it!
Tecobelli 1 year ago
Good Owl, kill that worthless Hawk...
RatBastardCulhane 1 year ago
@jnieminen2 You're an ignorant Finn for stereotyping. Calm down, you're not better than anyone. Sorry :(
VeganMuffin 1 year ago
@jnieminen2
I'd be more inclined to walk away from an owl in the bush than a hawk. Hawks need to see a clear advantage or they fuck off. Owls, on the other hand, just need to feel threatened for them to attack.
thegirl44 1 year ago
very cool! It's not everyday you see something like this!
iamsaztak 1 year ago
at :43 those are not the feet of a bird of prey(on the bird being killed). They would be talons and not flat like that
stallion321 1 year ago
I have to agree, it does seem the owl is bigger than 8-9".... Heard what turned out to be a screech the other night in the yard, got me interested in learning more about them.. While listening to sound clips, another started calling.. So 2 screeches in the trees around the house.. Guess that explains the lack of squirrels last 2 yrs..Any tips as to what I could bait them with so i can get a look at them?
beatcook 1 year ago
This video is awesome! My wife and I live in central Florida and just returned from tent camping. We were visited at dusk by a barred owl that seemed very interested in our 15lb dog. The owl looked 18" tall and left, then returned for a second pass. btw. I think it's interesting that viewers of your video feel the need to argue with you over what you saw.
newvalue3776 1 year ago
Hello, The Owl in this video doesn't look like an Eastern Screech. I have seen over a dozen and none of them have looked like the owl in your video. This Owl looks more like a long eared Owl which could take out a smaller hawk
danbirdman 1 year ago
Yes, it's hard to believe, but Long Eared Owls usually migrate outta here by that time of year. Had I not witnessed the incident with my very own eyes, I would have a hard time believing it was an Eastern Screech Owl. And it absolutely was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, not a grouse or a robin, or a blue jay. It was a 30 minute fight to the death. I used my binoculars from my window to identify the birds. They were only 40 feet away. My boyfriend took video while I watched.
susankayzee25 1 year ago
Hello, I dont believe the Owl in this video to be an Eastern Screech. The Face doesnt look like any Eastern Screech I have ever seen. it looks more like a Long Eared Owl.
danbirdman 1 year ago
Sure that wasn't a grouse. I would think it would be more likely the hawk would kill the owl.
TimmyGal 1 year ago
This is like MMA for Bird-Nerds!!! I Love It!!
gwagner30 1 year ago
wow
MerkabaStar 1 year ago
Definitely a Screech and definitely a small Accipiter - hear it from a Falconer of 22 years. During the winter months a lots of animals (when food is more scarce) act a little out of character. In the UK Tawny's will take sparrowhawks and kestrels so there;s no reason why a Screech cant take a Sharpie, providing it is caught off guard.
austringerroycie 1 year ago
wish the video was clearer and had sound :(
Asahel1019 1 year ago
@Asahel1019 Yep, me too. Thanks though. The only sound on the video was me and my boyfriend yammering back and forth, not worthwhile to listen to!
susankayzee25 1 year ago
Owls are deadly.. they always have been.
Beachcrib 1 year ago
I think someone who looks like an Owl could be an hideous criminal
Darkydog94 1 year ago
Nice Vid
Watch our video of a falcon take down a pigeon in our own garden
Adchwa 1 year ago
Interesting! That is defineitly an accipiter.There is no way that it could be a Coopershawk;to big an to tenacious for a screech to even comtemplate,in fact the roles would be reversed.That being said,a sharpie being the only smaller accipiter in NA fits the banded tail.I had to look at this vid more than 10 times because I just couldnt beleive it! It seems out of character for a screech to be doing this,but there is nothing else it could be!Good vid from a falconer whos handled both speices.
Orion508 1 year ago
clock the dead birds feet--yhey are not talons!! hawk my arse
MrWogo 1 year ago
that hawk got PWNED in the FAYCE
elitesack 1 year ago
Looks like the owl has ears.............. no barred owl, and if that's a sharpie, it's a tiny barred owl. Barred owls can weigh a kilogram.
chuckr1951 1 year ago
Screech owls are fierce. One popped my red-tail while the hawk was on my fist. He just kept going, and the hawk shrugged it off. A sharp-shin is a tiny hawk, and I could see a male falling prey to a screech owl.
chuckr1951 1 year ago
@chuckr1951, this was a Barred Owl in the video, they've been known to take small hawks like Sharp Shinned Hawks.
TheFalconryFan 1 year ago
i'm doing a report on the Eastern Screech Owl and this doesnt look like it cuz i thought they have little ear tufts
PainxKonan4ever 1 year ago
@PainxKonan4ever, it's a Barred Owl, not a Eastern Screech Owl.
TheFalconryFan 1 year ago
wat voor uil was het en wat voor roofvogel?
ReymisterioNL 1 year ago
i saw an owl once and i would love to c one again
radesh0430 1 year ago
Everyone doubting the fact an owl could take down a hawk is nuts. Those things are fierce, I got attacked by one while out on a run in December... easily the most terrifying moment of my life considering the strength of their talons.
I haven't been able to run near any wooded area since then.
tommyqauck 1 year ago
people underestimate owls and overestimate hawks. male sharp-shinned hawks (like this one in the video) are small weak hawks that feed on chickadee sized birds, their talons are weak and they are very swift and agile but not strong. Owls are "ruffer" and sturdier, this video makes perfect sense (though I do agree it's a rare sight!)
afffred 1 year ago
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I was a little surprised to hear it was a screech owl. They are so small and look adorable but looks can be deceiving. They're very close in size to the burrowing owls that live in my back yard. I once found a dead blue jay at the burrow entrance. It had been harrassing the owls for days. I knew it was pushing it's luck. Owls are extremely strong predators.
heykayde 1 year ago
I was a little surprised to hear it was a screech owl. They are so small and look adorable but looks can be deceiving. They're very close in size to the burrowing owls that live in my back yard. I once found a dead blue jay at the burrow entrance. It had been harrassing the owls for days. I knew it was pushing it's luck. Owls are extremely strong predators.
heykayde 1 year ago
I think you got really good footag. It's not like you can plan it, go out get the right equipment and lighting and set up. LOL. All you can do in such a rare moment is push the record button and hope for the best. Thanks for taking the time to film and post it.
heykayde 1 year ago
Anything's possible.
ursusarctosana 1 year ago
my girl is a falconer ive been learning a bit about them thru her and when theres snow on the ground its harder for them to find food so owls hawks and eagles will go for things they would normally avoid
rangerman2237 1 year ago
Looks like a small bird like a robin, that is no hawk.....
coryboy345 1 year ago
No Robins here in February. I guess you missed the part where I commented how I was an EYEWITNESS to the event. It is an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk. I promise!!
susankayzee25 1 year ago
@susankayzee25
Good story, I just don't see an owl taking down a hawk. Baby or not. They are some of the best predators in the area. A little screech owl would get destroyed by a hawk. There are a few birds that kind of look like a sharp-shinned hawk that you might have mistaken it for.
coryboy345 1 year ago
@coryboy345 What bird, in your opinion, do you think that owl is sitting upon. Please note the fairly long and banded tail. Also note the time of year and location. I would love to hear your thoughts, and let us all know how many years you've been an avid birdwatcher... please!
susankayzee25 1 year ago 4
@susankayzee25
Well considering the video is of such low quality, I can't be for sure but it could be a few types of birds. I'd guess it's a Dark-Eyed Junco given it's colors. Has a white belly with dark back and tail with black stripes going across the tail. They are also about the size of a fully grown Screech Owl.
Who knows, you could be right and it could of been an injured baby Hawk. But a healthy Hawk, baby or not, would destroy a Screech Owl. Just common sense if you know birds.
coryboy345 1 year ago