In the spirit of Halloween and everything pumpkin spice season, here is a column about the scary side of birds.

I’m not going to sensationalize or fear monger, and I’ll try not to be too corny either, but there are times when birds can be a little unnerving. This being a column based in New England, I’ll also try to keep it to the birds of this region, so there will be no horror stories of shoebills or cassowaries. (Those two species invariably come up when you do an Internet search for “scary birds.”)

One of the more unnerving experiences a birder in New England can experience is being hissed at and chased by a Canada goose. From a distance Canada geese look peaceful enough and even quite beautiful and regal depending on the habitat. Get too close to one, however, and they are large, formidable birds that can be quite fearless and intimidating.

They are so plentiful in many parts of New England these days that it is fairly common to come across a sizable number of Canada geese on or adjacent to a walking trail. Catch them when there are babies near or in an ornery mood, and you just may be verbally attacked and physically intimidated by one. It has happened to me several times, the first being in Pittsburg, NH, when I was trying to launch a canoe onto Second Connecticut Lake. Once it happens the first time, you are always a little wary when approaching a flock of geese.

Mute swans, which are fairly common in southern New England, are even worse. They are more aggressive and even larger than Canada geese.

I am also reminded of a story that is somewhat scary for real. In 2012 and again in 2016 and 2018, a “vicious” red-shouldered hawk kept attacking students walking into a Connecticut high school. According to local reports, one girl said she thought someone dropped a cinderblock out of a tree when the overly protective hawk swooped down on her head. Several students reported having scratches on their heads compliments of the bird. Hopefully those students don’t have a lifelong fear of birds because of the incident.

It is impossible to do a Halloween-themed bird column without mentioning crows, ravens, and vultures. Not that any of these birds are scary in the sense that they would harm humans in any way, but literature, art and folklore are filled with examples of these birds being painted in a spooky light.

Crows and ravens, which do make some eerie sounds, are often associated with death. “The Raven” is one of my favorite poems and is written by one of my favorite authors, Edgar Allan Poe. The bird in the poem represents the lost love of the narrator and reminds him of his loneliness and misery since her death.

The Crow, a 1994 movie, has a real-life chilling story of its own. The film’s plot revolves around a musician who was murdered along with his soon-to-be wife coming back from the dead and being guided by a crow to get revenge on those who killed him. Tragically, the lead actor, Brandon Lee, was killed on set by a firearm malfunction. 

Vultures may be more of a Western movie motif, but seeing a bunch of vultures on the roof of a house is bound to evoke scary thoughts of Halloweens past.

Here are a few quick-hitters to end the column:

Northern shrikes sometimes impale their prey on thorns or other sharp objects. 

Cardinals are sometimes seen with bald, black heads when molting. It’s a jarring sight when seen for the first time.

Barn owls have perhaps the most Halloween-like sound of all birds.

Happy autumn everyone. I know for some of you the preponderance of pumpkin spice products on the supermarket shelves this time of year is scarier than anything else in this column. Don’t fret, it will be over soon enough.