---
title: "An F-16 Fighting Falcon fought a hawk and won"
description: "This photo shows the aftermath of a bird strike that occurred during a routine landing of F-16 Fighting Falcon at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico April 17, 2019, a spokesperson for the 49th Wing confirmed"
date: "2019-05-09"
modified: "2019-05-09"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/f16-fighting-falcon-bird-strike-hawk-photo/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Aircraft"
  - "Fighter Aircraft"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
---

# An F-16 Fighting Falcon fought a hawk and won

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/19457190-1.jpg>)

Breathe easy, red-blooded Americans: that's no bald eagle.

The above photo, [first posted](<https://www.facebook.com/AirForceForum/photos/a.432721196901526/1235168286656809/?type=3&permPage=1>) to the popular Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page on Wednesday, shows the aftermath of a bird strike that occurred during a routine landing of F-16 Fighting Falcon at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico April 17, 2019, a spokesperson for the 49th Wing confirmed.

"When a bird strike occurs, the remains are sent to the Smithsonian where they classify the bird and determine how it was struck," 2nd Lt. Jasmine Manning told Task & Purpose in an email. "The bird pictured is a Swanson's Hawk."

"HAFB takes measures to prevent as many of these strikes as possible, as well as any obstruction that would affect a safe take-off or landing of our aircraft," she added.

Holloman AFB is host to both the 49th Wing's fleet of F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fighter jets and the F-16C training aircraft assigned to the 54th Fighter Group as part of the Air Force's Education and Training Command.

We now go live to the Holloman DFAC:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lco9Ki-5qfQ

## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/jaredbkeller>)  
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[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbkeller/>)  
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