Things seen in the Bird Division #11: 'Til death do us part

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Photo ©Jeff Skrentny.

Sibling birds-of-prey often play-fight with their talons. It's practice for hunting, fighting, and passing prey to a mate. But the Red-tailed Hawks in the photos below are adults. They probably got their talons locked together in a territorial battle. Apparently they were unable to unlock them, causing both birds to perish. Maybe they should have played more as youngsters. "To the victor go the spoils," the saying goes. Unless there is no victor.