I was turkeys calling for a buddy yesterday we caught 2 hens and a pair of gobblers crossing the road along a creek. We tried to get ahead of them and made a few calls further down the creek after setting up.

I heard a ruckus behind my buddy, at first I thought 2 robins were going at it in a brushy snag. A smaller bird sparrow size or a bit smaller flew out in front of him and landed on a branch not 10 feet away. Then a small hawk hammered it on the limb looked at my buddy and flew off with it carrying it no problem.

I thought it was a sparrow hawk but it looked darker then I remember them being it was not much if any bigger then a robin would be. He’s new to the outdoors and hunting it was a great experience for both of us.

What about those gobblers??

kestrel most likely. Fun little birds. Zoo I used to volunteer at had one that depending on the educational program I would take out for demonstration at the zoo, take to schools, or other events. Schools and groups would book a program like predator prey and pay the fee and Then volunteers would take the zoo van and appropriate animals and materials and give the presentations.

We had a lot of different animals we would take. From simple snakes and bearded dragons to birds of prey and under 3" alligators. It was always fun.

My guess is a sharp-shinned hawk

And yeah, did you kill those toms?

Cool,
Once in a while I see a hawk nail a bird in my backyard

Birds all over would not respond to any calling only random gobbling but not much vocalization. Birds in all stages from groups of 15 to lone hens and pairs of gobblers out and about. I’d of bet my bank account he would have got a bird but only one hen responded in the 2 days then a big hail storm ran us out the last day.

I would have thought Sparrow Hawk (American Kestrel) also by the size but it was more of a solid gray color. I’ll do some research and see what I can find on it.

Looks right color wise I’d say that was it.

Thanks

No problem. Turkey hunting is funny... One day, they ignore you, and the next day they can't get to you fast enough

Some pics my buddy took.

1 of about 15 in this bunch I’ll try to post the video.

Interesting story. I think timing has a huge factor for when birds respond best. It has always seemed early in season is the hardest and less vocal.

Just my 2¢

Look up the Merlin, they are a bird hunting machine and are darker in color then a sharp-shinned hawk or Kestrel.

If you spend enough time in the woods and fields whether hunting or trapping, you’re going to see some cool and novel things. A hawk nailing a sparrow is a perfect example.
Talk about it more than they do it outdoorsman don’t witness such things.

I like the birds with the tank crossing sign. Don't see that every day.

Besides being cool the first morning everything was ideal no closed areas that can bump you from your best spots, no big hunting pressure, birds everywhere we have done better in worse conditions. We could of roaded birds both days but that not a plan with me. Big storm was rolling in but that was a day or 2 away.

Just turkeys being turkeys.

I once went fishing and spent several hours watching a Red Tail chasing a squirrel round and round a pine tree. Squirrel 1, Red Tail Hawks 0! LOL

Was in my duck blind years back out a ways in our shallow lake and a Merlin hawk was pushing a smaller bird out into the open water I was thinking it was tiring the thing out before the kill.

I was duck hunting when I saw my first merlin... It chased down a tree swallow right over the decoys. It flipped upside down and grabbed the swallow from below then turned right side up and flew away with it. My buddy and I looked at each other and said, "What the H was that thing!?'

I was turtle trapping a big pond. Pulled out a trap with four 30 plus pounders. What a sight! I was working them out of the traps and I hear this big splash in the water. It was some bird of prey. Watched it struggle or so I thought. I thought it must have been shot and finally was gonna die in the pond.

To my utter amazement, I watched that bird start flapping it's wings and come out of the water with a fish his it's talons. It got about 30-40 feet up, stopped flapping it's wings and shook off the water mid flight. It started flapping again after losing a little altitude then turned the fish head first in line with it's body and flew away.

I looked up this bird and it is an osprey. It idid exactly what the video showed. I got to witness this from start to finish. I was awestruck to say the least.