Harrier vs. Kestrel

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Harrier vs. Kestrel

Jan. 14, 2015, at the Ridgefield NWR, I spotted a Northern Harrier far out in a field being harassed by an American Kestrel.  You’d think it would have been the other way around but the kestrel seemed to be controlling the harrier’s moves.  The harrier was actually turning summer salts and flipping around as the kestrel buzzed by several times.  (Maybe they were just playing!!??)  I have a shot of the harrier upside down while doing a summer salt in the air, which I may post later.  The sharpness of this image is certainly not the best but I thought the behavioral aspect of it made it interesting.

Canon 7D Mark II, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 500, 500mm, 12:06 p.m.

Jan. 14, 2015, at the Ridgefield NWR, I spotted a Northern Harrier far out in a field being harassed by an American Kestrel.  You’d think it would have been the other way around but the kestrel seemed to be controlling the harrier’s moves.  The harrier was actually turning summer salts and flipping around as the kestrel buzzed by several times.  (Maybe they were just playing!!??)  I have a shot of the harrier upside down while doing a summer salt in the air, which I may post later.  The sharpness of this image is certainly not the best but I thought the behavioral aspect of it made it interesting.

Canon 7D Mark II, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 500, 500mm, 12:06 p.m.

2 thoughts on “Harrier vs. Kestrel”

  1. Wow! Love the action. When you catch it just right, like this, the interaction between the raptors is so interesting. Keep it up Dennis!

  2. Thank you, Carolyn, for the nice comment! It was very strange to see this behavior by the kestrel. Maybe it was a territorial thing. It dive bombed the harrier repeatedly.

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