Why do crows mob Hawks?

Q: A pair of red-tailed hawks has nested near our house for years. Several times I have seen one or both of them harassed by crows. I watched a five-minute dogfight today with the hawk just trying to get away. It was very entertaining, but puzzling. read more

Crows recognize hawks as a significant predator of crows, so a given 'murder' of crows will mob a hawk to drive them away from their territory. Crows will mob owls for the same reason. read more

Crows mobbing a red-tailed hawk. Mobbing in animals is an antipredator adaptation in which individuals of prey species mob a predator by cooperatively attacking or harassing it, usually to protect their offspring. read more

If a hawk is not that hungry, it may decide to leave. While the hawk is leaving a few crows may follow it, but again the hawk will not bother responding because it is mostly noise and near misses by the cautious crows. If the crows present a real threat by attacking, then the hawk will definitely fight back. read more

Well, the hawk is Superman - superior in nearly every way - but the problem is that adult crows are not prey animals for hawks or other raptors (a word for all these types of birds with claws and hooked beaks). read more