Small bird engineers uneasy alliance between hawk and treeshrew

Not Exactly Rocket Science
By Ed Yong
Dec 9, 2009 4:00 AMNov 5, 2019 12:11 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

On Nicobar Island, in the Indian Ocean, a most unusual hunting party is searching for food. Through the branches of the forest, the tiny Nicobar treeshrew scuttles about searching for insects. They're followed by the racket-tailed drongo, a small bird that picks off juicy morsels flushed out by the foraging treeshrews. So far, this isn't unusual - many distantly related animals forage together, either because they net more food or because they can watch out for predators.

But this alliance has a third an altogether more surprising member - a sparrowhawk. This bird of prey is five times larger than either of the other two species and can easily kill treeshrews. But it doesn't - instead, it only deploys its talons on other prey that are disturbed by its partners.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group