Mobbing by Birds
Mobbing by Birds
Many species of birds will gang up on a predator and bother it when it is not hunting. this behavior is called mobbing.
Crows will gather around an eagle perched in a tree and caw at it. they will even fly close to it and strike it in passing. their caws attract more crows that will join in the attack. the crows mob the eagle until it flies away. Small birds mob predators, too. A mob may be made up of birds of several species.
Scientists who study birds have long wondered why birds would risk their lives to mob a hawk, cat, fox, or other predator, especially one that is not hunting. They have come up with several reasons.
The mobbing birds may be letting the predator know that it has been seen, so it might as well go hunt somewhere else. They may be parent birds trying to distract the predator so that it will not look for their nests. They may be trying to get the attention of a bigger predator—one that will go after the birds’ predator. Mobbing also helps other birds know that there is a predator in the neighborhood.
Many species of birds will gang up on a predator and bother it when it is not hunting. this behavior is called mobbing.
Crows will gather around an eagle perched in a tree and caw at it. they will even fly close to it and strike it in passing. their caws attract more crows that will join in the attack. the crows mob the eagle until it flies away. Small birds mob predators, too. A mob may be made up of birds of several species.
Scientists who study birds have long wondered why birds would risk their lives to mob a hawk, cat, fox, or other predator, especially one that is not hunting. They have come up with several reasons.
The mobbing birds may be letting the predator know that it has been seen, so it might as well go hunt somewhere else. They may be parent birds trying to distract the predator so that it will not look for their nests. They may be trying to get the attention of a bigger predator—one that will go after the birds’ predator. Mobbing also helps other birds know that there is a predator in the neighborhood.
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