do birds of prey hunt in pairs.....

[nightowl57]

I was sitting in my garden this morning, watching the birds feeding, when all of a sudden two birds flew low over my head, too fast for me to identify them, and all of the small birds just went in every direction, so it was clearly a threat to them. Be grateful if anyone could answer this!

[posie]

The little birds in our garden all panic and fly off when the pair of wood pigeons fly over (quite low), could it have been pigeons ?

[nightowl57]

I couldn't rule it out, but we quite a few wood pigeons around and do not usually create that reaction, but yes, could have been.

[posie]

I dont know much about raptors although we do have resident kestrels and occasional visiting buzzards and sparrow hawks, but I daresay one of the raptor experts will soon catch sight of this thread.

[Picidae]

Birds of Prey tend only to hunt in 'pairs' during the breeding season when it's most likely that it will be a juvenile offspring with an adult, or two inexperienced juveniles that are being witnessed. Sparrowhawk, the most likely garden sighted bird of prey, tend to be solitary in the winter. Sexual dimorphism in size means the target prey will often be different too. A female Sparrowhawk chasing a Woodpigeon is a very likely possibility - any active hunting can send birds up in a panic. Another possibility is two Sparrowhawks chasing each other in competition over hunting ground (ie. your garden!) where an 'incursion' has taken place by one of the individuals.

Wood pigeons can get into quite a flap with each other but in my experience, where I've seen several Woodies fighting/chasing each other around the garden, the smaller birds have usually carried on at the feeders undeterred and I have both quite regularly in the garden. Wood Pigeons can scare birds off the feeders/bird table though if they specifically try and land on them but not just by flying over the garden.

[willing to learn]

Some BOP hunt in pairs Peregrines are a good example, shepherding quarry together into a posistion where it can be taken, however this is done when they have young to feed. At this time of year BOP would be solitary hunters.
Regards
Colin

[rossy]

yes nightowl i have actually witnessed peregrines hunting together. the first one went up and was like a dot to the naked eye the second went up and pigeons took to the air and then the first came in and took a pigeon awsome sight to see the peregrines in action working as a team. rossy.

[dunlin]

HowStuffWorks Videos "Weird True and Freaky: Harris Hawk Pack Hunters"
The above link shows harris hawks hunting in packs, hope ive added the link properly if i havent copy and paste to the address bar on google

[Madelinew]

I was going to quote Harris Hawks when I read the start of this thread. I understand they are one of the only if not the only BOP to hunt in packs - what amazing creatures. And pack hunting shows a pretty good level of intelligence

[Madelinew]

I should add you're unlikely to have them in the garden unless the Andes have sprung up overnight