Aerial Attack Produces Reciprocal Fatal Trauma between Great Horned Owl and Red-Shouldered Hawk

Abstract

A Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl) and a Buteo lineatus (Red-Shouldered Hawk) were found dead in a field in Morgan County, GA following a reported mid-air attack. The birds were submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS), College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA for a postmortem examination. Necropsy results disclosed multiple foci of severe hemorrhage and bone fractures in both birds, and the findings suggest that this is an apparent case of reciprocal trauma in two raptors. Documented reciprocal fatal trauma in raptors is scarce, and to the author's knowledge, this is the only report involving Great Horned Owls.