Fighting
Like us, birds don’t always get along with others. Sometimes it’s birds of the same species who have a fishing territorial dispute, sometimes it’s two males fighting over the same potential mate, and sometimes it’s different species who barely tolerate each other. Here are some examples below. I highly recommend clicking on any image to view it larger.
Egrets
Left and Right - In this series of six images, I watched two male Snowy Egrets both get closer and closer to a female Snowy Egret who is not in any of the frames. When one finally got a bit too close for the comfort of the other male, some chasing and “dancing” pursued. The pinnacle of their challenge to each other seems to be how high they can each jump which may or may not have been a determining factor in who “won” this particular match. The good news is I never saw either bird psychically harm the other one. Start at the upper left and continue down and then to the upper right and down to follow the sequence.
Raptors
I’m always amazed that large raptors such as hawks and eagles would actually be harassed by other birds. Red-Tailed Hawks seem to be especially susceptible to it. When several birds, especially crows, go after hawks, it is called “mobbing” - and for good reason. Here are some examples below.
Below - I have several large telephone and utility poles outside my house that Red-Tailed Hawks enjoy relaxing on. Well, until the Magpies and Crows come along. The Magpies will usually squawk a lot but keep their distance while crows are usually bolder. However, in the first image below, a Magpie actually started pulling the hawk’s feathers. I was truly amazed there was no retaliation by the hawk and usually the hawk will show its annoyance by simply flying away. In the last image a Magpie was harassing an Osprey albeit from a safe distance.
Ducks
Two images below - One day at a local park I came across two male Mallard ducks that were having a vocal argument on the shore. I was surprised at how long they kept it up and even started getting physical with each other. These images might initially evoke an “Aww, that’s cute” response when viewed but I can tell you they were pulling each other’s feathers rather viciously. In the only time I have ever “intervened” with nature taking its course with birds was this time when I instinctively broke up the fight (and, yes, I scolded them to “grow up”!). They jumped in the water, trash-talked a bit, and then let bygones be bygones. And if you’re wondering what caused it, you probably guessed right - a fair lady duck.
Below - These beautiful creatures are male Wood Ducks, probably along with Mandarin Ducks the most colorful ducks on the planet. These two look like best “buds” but they were getting on each other’s nerves pursuing the same female wood duck. The duck on the left finally swam over to the other one and sort of crashed into it and bullied him out of his territory.
Below - I’m not sure what the cause of this skirmish was (possible mate is always a safe bet) but the male Mallard Duck on the left had enough of the one on the right and literally chased it away from what it considered to be its territory.
Other Birds
Two images below - A pesky Magpie boldly started to bully an American Kestrel on a telephone wire. I thought for sure the Kestrel, a small falcon, would have none of that but to my surprise it gave in and yielded the wire to the Magpie.
Below - Another Magpie and Kestrel encounter
Below - Crows don’t only “mob” hawks. This one decided to harass a Great Blue Heron that was sitting atop a very tall tree.
Two images below - Gulls are notorious for chasing each other when one has a morsel of a meal. They expect sharing but rarely if ever is that fulfilled. Here are two examples of a bit of disagreement over that sharing concept.
Below - A Dark-Eyed Junco seems to be “bragging” at a Red-Breasted Nuthatch that its insect food is a far superior meal than the seeds in the feeder that the Nuthatch is after.