Expert: Roger Lederer - 5/29/2007

Question
I've recently moved to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. There are several common and resident raptor and two vulture species here. Through the winter, spring and now into summer I've observed that the black vulture and what I take to be a red-tailed hawk often have associated with them a number of smaller birds essentially following them around. Any idea what the smaller birds are? I haven't been able to tell if they are of a single species or more of a mixed bag.

(I have an extensive background in animal (mammal) behavior & so will understand if you need more detailed descriptions-- I'm assuming though that this is pretty common and can be answered without too much.)

Thanks, Marica

Answer
The vultures and hawks do not have any specific amaller species associated with them. The smaller birds are merely chasing the hawk/vulture away - they are harassing them so as to protect themselves and their nest. In the air, most hawks cannot catch small birds so the small birds are at an advantage. On their nest, hawks can prey on them, so the smaller birds just harass the hawks (and vultures, which resemble hawks, and even crows and ravens). These smaller birds can be blackbirds, sparrows, starlings, swallows, finches, flycatchers, almost anything. Roger Lederer at Ornithology.com