I found a small dead bird on the sidewalk yesterday. The only thing wrong I found was that he appeared the be skinned from the bottom side of his beak to his throat. This morning near by I found the skin and feathers that had been pulled out. It looks as if another pointed beaked bird bit him on the throat and twisted a chunk out of his throat intentionally killing him with no plans to eat. This bird could have been a finch or a cactus wren, Very small size and I haven’t looked it up yet.
My only theory is that a house sparrow stole his nest?? Any other theories.
I was reading somewhere about house sparrow killing the smaller occupants of nests and moving in but I have never witnessed it. I am wondering if this is the case. There are some eaves in the building right next to where the bird was found. The eaves are popular nest sites.
bluejays are some of the biggest assholes in the bird kingdom. don’t rule them out. they’ll attack/ bully bigger birds, smaller birds, pets & even people. the noises they make are like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
The Cardinal birds in these parts give the Bluejays hell. They compete for nesting in a little stand of willows in my backyard. I used to do bird feeders, but it turn into all out war, so I stopped. Of course, here in Arkansas we had the great ‘birds falling dead out of the sky’ mystery. It wasnt very close to me. I have noticed the odd dead bird, I have never looked for mutilation, though.
as i understand it, and although they aren’t migratory birds, they are protected under the migratory bird act. that makes it a fedral felony offence to kill them. as such, i would never admit to committing said crime. . …
but i do actually know the guy. and he’s got an air rifle just like mine.
While that golden eagle is certainly being rough on that goat, it’s what they do.
Hummingbirds, on the other hand, will pick fights while humming, ‘fuck you, nonbeliever’ at the top of their little lungs. An old Petersen’s I had once described the Ruby-throated Hummingbird’s temperament as simply, “Pugnacious”.
Owls are legit scary! I hate those birds. I do like grackles, crows, ravens, black birds. I want one for a pet. I would teach him to love me and do fun things, if only I could catch one!
If our cattle dog beagle mix ate outside she’d probably catch a bazillion bluejays. She’d lie doggo and grab them when they dived for her food. She’s The quickest dog I’ve ever seen.
