Earlier this afternoon, I had Hilary in my arms and was walking with her around the living room. As I looked out the living room windows I happened to see the unmistakable form of a falcon diving towards a raven flying about 10 feet off the ground. When the bird hit, the raven dropped slightly but kept flying, looking no worse for wear. As the much smaller falcon was climbing again for what looked to be a second dive I set Hilary down and grabbed my binoculars.
Unfortunately in doing so I lost sight of the falcon and it did not try again for that raven. I’m going to assume that it is a Gyrfalcon as the Peregrine’s should have left some time ago. Alas I didn’t get a good enough look to tell for sure. What ever it was it must have been hungry to take on a raven.
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Hi Claire, A Gyr is a major league bird. In the Great Basin I once saw a prairie falcon have a sort of running dogfight with 2 ravens, but neither side seemed to have serious intent. The prairie falcon (the size of a peregrine) was smaller than the ravens, but Grys are bigger, a female as big as the raven… O.K., now you tell me that your ravens are bigger than any I’ve seen in the states. I’ll believe that, but you said the falcon was “much” smaller than the raven and you used the words “should have left” when mentioning peregrines. ;-)>
Our Ravens are larger here also. The Falcon would be the better fighter, but the Raven would have been the lesser meal. Ravens are way more intellegent though.
But our Ravens are bigger Carl. I’ve seen both birds at the cliffs where they both nest and definitely came away with the impression the Gyrfalcon was a smaller bird, perhaps it is its sleeker appearance. I’d be very surprised if the Peregrines were still here, it is awfully late for them, but who knows these days. And at the end of the day, I can’t really say one way or the other as I didn’t get a good enough look.
I believe it is a general rule on body size Dave, that body size in any species gets larger the farther north one goes. And you’re right they are one smart bird.