Tru dat. Small birds are more maneuverable. If it's pure bird-on-bird aerial combat, the bird with less mass will pretty much always have the advantage; they can get behind the big bird and just peck it from above until they feel like stopping. It's a very rare inversion of the usual rules of Nature Fight.

I was watching some crows chase around an eagle the other day. The pathetic squee noises it made like it’s saying “I toldja I was sorry I ate your babies” has me wondering why we have all fallen for this whole eagles are a symbol of power gobbledegook.

I watched a falcon casually tear a smaller bird into pieces and spit its feathers under a tree in my front yard over the course of 20 minutes

I saw a hawk and a Robin going at it one day. It fucked me up when the Robin hit the hawk and it started to fall. Didn't see the aftermath as I was driving but either way. Never expected a hawk to lose against a Robin.

Man, that meme template is really good

Also, "Never Attribute to Malice That Which Is Adequately Explained by Stupidity/Incompetence", one form of Hanlon's razor.

So, Transitively, courage is not malicious?

I've seen more small birds harassing large ones than the other way around. Agility is important in the air. And surprise is important to how large birds hunt.

Though the bird in the picture might be asking for it to get that close while not in the air.

Which razor is this? I like it.

Google tells me Red Shouldered Hawk and Red Crossbill. Maybe that's why they hang out together. Gang colors.

Courage is knowing you're likely to fail, but taking a chance and doing your best anyway. Stupidity is thinking there's little to no risk when there's a lot.