sparrowhawks part 2

[bobtheduck]

i heard they are afraid of magpies is this true?

[New Forester]

Never seen any sign of this, or heard of it. Doesn't mean it isn't true, though... Most hawks are wary of crows, and crows will often attack hawks, especially relatively clumsy ones such as buzzards. I'd have thought that the magpie would have an advantage in a direct contest (perhaps over a prey item) -- they are very robust, and work in teams. Sparrowhawks are elite athletes, well-armed, but quite lightly built. If they injure themselves, they will starve, while a magpie has more options and can probably risk a little more.

[verbiphobe]

In Australia everything fears the magpie(including humans who are frequently attacked by them and sometimes resort to lethal force)

[New Forester]

Not sure where you are, bobtheduck? Presumably Europe, if you have sparrowhawks? Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) is quite different from the one found in Britain ("black-billed" magpie, Pica pica) -- though it sounds as if their rowdy behaviour might be similar. UK magpies don't attack humans, but can be pretty aggressive, especially near the nest.

[Drewhound]

Like New Forester I've never seen any sign of fear. It's far more likely to be common sense, the sparrowhawk is looking for prey, or maybe even just a nice perch, rather than committing himself to a fight he doesn't want. Much smaller birds that couldn't win a fight with a sparrowhawk will also force them away from a nest In much the same way an adult cat and a fox will rarely fight unless there is a good reason, eg one is trapped, they both have little to gain and much to lose