Anyone who loves pigeons, whether keeping them as pets for show or to fly, or simply enjoys watching them at a backyard bird feeder has probably been plagued by loss of birds to predatory hawks. Hawks are adept hunters and can swoop down, grab a pigeon and be gone in a split second.

What bird of prey would kill a pigeon?

Peregrines and sparrowhawks will kill racing pigeons and can cause injury or disruption to flocks.

Do hawks prey on pigeons?

John Rowden of the NYC Audobon Society describes hawks eating pigeons as "an everyday occurrence, probably happens multiple times a day" -- predominately red-tailed hawks in the city. Pigeons are a "major prey item," and that hawks take advantage of the city's overabundance of pigeons and rats.