Predation by a White-Tailed Hawk and a Harris Hawk on a Wild Turkey Poult

Abstract

On 6 May 1970, I observed a White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus) and a Harris Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) attack and kill a six-day-old wild Turkey poult (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia). The incident occurred at 11:35 CDT on King Ranch, Inc., Kleberg County, Texas. The events prior to and after the incident are as follows. While observing a Turkey hen with poults, I noticed a White-tailed Hawk diving for the ground. It spread its wings and extended its feet just before landing on the Turkey poult. Two or three seconds after the White-tailed Hawk hit the poult, a Harris Hawk also landed on the poult. The hawks were facing each other on the ground with their feet grasping the young bird. The Turkey hen left her hiding place, some 25 m away, and flew directly toward the two hawks. As she approached, the hawks released the poult and took to the air with the Turkey hen in close pursuit. After chasing the hawks for some 20 m and flying to a height of approximately 45 m, at one time almost straight up, the hen glided to the ground and promptly returned to her previous hiding place. I believe this incident is of scientific interest for the following reasons: (1) it increases our knowledge of the White-tailed Hawk, a relatively unstudied species; (2) it illustrates an instance of direct competition between two species of raptors; and (3) it adds to the knowledge of predation on very young wild Turkeys.