Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Falcons in WI?

So last week I was sittin in my roon, minding my business. Then I hear a loud crash/thud/bang, and rush downstairs to investigate. No damage in the house, but it sounded like a bird hitting a window. I look outside and there is what appears to be a falcon standing on top of a chickadee it had nailed. We have a standing birdfeeder right behind the house, and my best guess is that this falcon dove straight down and just plowed into this chickadee as it was pleasantly feeding on the birdfeeder. The feeder was tipped a bit, and there was a huge pile of feathers on the ground. Pretty damn cool actually. This falcon then flew away as I went for the camera, of course.

My question is, was this a falcon? We have lots of red-tailed hawks around here, but I know what those look like and this wasn't one. It was a bit smaller than a red-tailed as well. This thing looked greyish. I only saw it for a bit while taking the whole situation in. I know there's Peregrines in downtown Milwaukee. There's a few project birds there on top of buildings and such. Could these have spread? I live 30 minutes west of the city! Here's some pics. Anybody wants to weigh in, would be helpful. Thanks, and watch your head!

Here's some feathers from the culprit.

WR... two main suspects, the Sharp-shinned Hawk and the Merlin (a falcon), photos of both can be seen here...
http://www.virtualbirder.com/bkwheeler/photo.html

Both are about the same size (small males about like a Blue Jay, big females pigeon size or a bit bigger). Adult Sharp-shins are blue-gray above, barred rusty below. Adult Merlins are variable, often blue-gray above, reddish-brown below. First year birds of both species are brown with barring. Both feed mostly upon small birds cuaght in flight.

The MO sounds like a Sharp-shin, they have relatively short-rounded wings, long legs and a long tail. They hunt down low from ambush sorta like a cat. They use cover to get close and then rush their prey. Aerodynamically they are sort of in a low gear: they can accelerate very quickly but their top speed ain't all that (maybe 45mph). On the other hand they are lightly built and manouverable can do that 45 mph though brush and branches. Usually it is Sharp-shins that stake out bird feeders.

Merlins are falcons, built for speed in open settings; longer, pointed wings. A Merlin typically hunts low over open areas, overhauling its prey by pure speed.

So... when that bird flew, if its wings looked rounded and if it flew off through the trees ya prob'ly got a Sharp-shin. If its wings looked more pointed like a Killdeer or Kestrel and it flew off over the trees or broke for the open more'n likely a Merlin.

Either one, if it didn't actually get hurt it will probably be back, Anytime all the birds at the feeder suddenly bail keep your eyes open.

Birdwatcher

Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk are both Accipiters. They commonly take birds for prey. If the victim was a Chickadee then it is most likely a Sharp-shinned Hawk which is smaller than the Cooper's. I have both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks patroling my bird feeders. I like to feed the birds, including the Hawks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Sharp-shinned Hawk


Cooper's Hawk

Falcons have pointed wings and long tails and include the Kestrel, Gyrfalcon, Merlin, Peregrine and Prairie Falcon.

I live about 1-1/2 hours north of Milwaukee and we have a pair of Perigrines nesting on the local Budweiser Tower each year. If I am not mistaken I believe that Perigrines migrate south in fall and are already out of Wisconsin.

I watched a merlin take out a magpie when I was out hunting this year,that was neat.And twice now I have been attacked by a sharp shinned hawk.The last one nearly caused me to fall from my ladder stand.

I was looking over my right shoulder and when I turned back to the the front,wham,here comes a hawk right at me.My first reaction was to duck and wave my bow at it.I lost my balance but luckily my harness was snugged up short and kept me from falling.

Thanks for the great replies everyone. I will look at those pics and try to figure it out. Sharp-shinned or Cooper's hawk looks like him. I remembered the bird wasn't a chikadee, my dad said it was, but then I looked up chikadee online and that wasn't it, this victim was a bit bigger. Anyway, thanks! I wish I would have seen the whole thing happen. Hope he comes back.