What's 'Rufus the Hawk' that keep pigeons away from Wimbledon and Lord's Test?

Overview

• 'Rufus the Hawk', the Harris's Hawk, is used to keep pigeons away from the sporting action
• All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club uses it during Wimbledon
• Even in some major cricket matches like the Lord's Test, its usage was found

'Rufus the Hawk' is a Harris's Hawk, which is used by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club to ensure pigeons stay away from the sporting action. These pigeons often threaten the players by disrupting play and poop on the fans in the arena. The Hawks are hence popularly used in Wimbledon and Lord's Test, where pigeons often threaten to interrupt the event.

It was first introduced at Wimbledon early in the 2010s. The Grand Slam family has regarded Rufus as an "important member of the Wimbledon family" and has replaced Hamish, which was its predecessor. Rufus takes care of the 42-acre area at Wimbledon for all of its two weeks every year, and was also used at the Summer Olympics in 2012 and the Lord's Test multiple times.

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Rufus the Hawk's usages

Over the years, Westminster Abbey, hospitals, airfields, and landfill sites have also been protected by the Harris's Hawk. In June 2012, it was stolen from its owner, which led to a widespread outcry. Three days later, it was eventually found at Wimbledon Common and did not suffer any major scare, apart from a sore leg.

Rufus usually wore a Radio Transmitter, which was removed from it before the incident. In June 2013, it was reported that the Rufus were chased by a group of crows and scared the people in hoods. However, it is being claimed that the criticism has been put on hold, as the owners have managed Rufus well.

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The bird has its presence on social media handles like Instagram, X, and Facebook. It also has a Wimbledon security photocard pass named 'Bird Scarer'. Rufus was spotted at the ongoing Wimbledon 2025 and did its job well by ensuring pigeons stay away from the sporting area.