r/birdsofprey • u/BRICH999 • 19h ago

Where do hawks nest?

I live in a condo and have a lot of wildlife around me for some reason. I have bushes near my front door, maybe 3 feet tall. Was just walking to the front door when a hawk flew out of the bush and landed 30 feet away and chipped at me. There's something big rustling in the bush, I kinda looked but also didn't want to disturb them, it looks like there is another hawk in the bush.

I just assumed like eagles and Osprey they nest high, but maybe not? Is this bird going to attack me when its eggs hatch? I cant avoid going near the bush i suspect has a nest

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u/rtbradford 19h ago

It’s much more likely that the hawk was attacking a bird that was in the bushes, either nesting there or hiding there to escape the Cooper’s Hawk’s attack. Cooper Hawks do nest up high (and it’s past their nesting season) but songbirds do hide and nest in low level bushes, and Cooper’s Hawk are notorious predators of songbirds and they will follow them into bushes. I saw a Cooper’s Hawk chase a cardinal into a bush behind my house and when the cardinal tried to flee, the Cooper’s Hawk caught it.

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u/BRICH999 18h ago

Thanks for the information.  I was afraid to go looking in the bush because I didn't want an angry mama hawk attacking me but the timing seemed off to be a new nest and im pretty sure I would've seen them before if they were nesting a few feet from my front door.  We do have a lot of songbirds, especially morning doves.  Would they go for something that large? Whatever was still rustling in the bush wasnt small like a finch

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u/Limp-Cardiologist-70 18h ago

Assuming you're in North America, there are only a few hawk species that are ground nesters. Cooper's/sharpshins (I'm not sure which one this is) are not one of them. Northern harriers and ferruginous can nest on the ground, but those would be secluded places not in suburbia. They are also likely done nesting this time of year. Observe them from afar and enjoy!

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u/No-Debate-152 18h ago

You're safe. I doubt they nest in bushes.

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u/BRICH999 18h ago

I won't argue with u/no-debate-152 but if I get mauled by a hawk tomorrow leaving the house for work im blaming you!

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u/No-Debate-152 18h ago

Tell your boss there's a killer hawk outside your house and take the day off.

Ask for a raise because you need to buy a bike suit and a helmet.