Pile of feathers on the lawn

[loggah]

I found a huge pile of feathers today on my front lawn from what appears to be a hawk(?) killed in the past day or two. (See attached photo.) The feathers were spread over a 15 x 15 foot area. I found only one wing, and no head, feet or tail feathers. The feathers had definitely been ripped out in clumps, some with bits of skin attached. The wing primaries were 10 - 11 inches long and the breast feathers were between 1.5 and 2.5 inches long. Anyone got an idea what bird this was? Also, what kills a bird this big? Another hawk? Any guesses or speculation welcome.

[Ashley beolens]

Not sure of the bird but it must have been killed by Bigfoot3:-)

[RoyH]

Hi

We often get a visit from the Sparrow Hawk so this is my guess or it could be next doors cat.

Roy.

[Michael Frankis]

Looks like the kill was done by a mammal (cat, dog, fox, coyote, etc), the feathers look chewed off rather than plucked off the way a raptor does. Raptor kills look neater too, and they usually leave the two wings together with the connecting sternum.

What bird this was, I can't tell, one other possibility is an owl of some sort. If the flight feathers (primaries, secondaries) have a 'fluffy' surface, then it is an owl. I'd guess Barred Owl primaries would be close on a foot long. If the flight feathers are smooth, then maybe perhaps Cooper's Hawk?

Michael

[loggah]

The flight feathers were definitely not from an owl. They were not soft and fluffy.

It's possible that this was a hawk kill that was subsequently found by a mammal. I'm having a difficult time figuring out how a coyote or dog could have killed this bird. I am positive it wasn't a cat, just becasue of the size of the bird. If the primaries are 10 inches long, it had to be pretty big!

As to the identity, I considered cooper's or sharpshinned, but wouldn't the breast feathers show some rusty brown color? Every feather I found was barred gray and white.

[Beverlybaynes]

If the bird was already ill or injured, and perhaps on the ground, then a cat or dog could have easily taken the bird.

And since you welcomed speculation, I'll say the feathers make me think Barred Owl.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Loggah,

Thanks for the info; about Cooper's, must admit its easy for me to forget that both sexes are the same colour (our common small/medium size Accipiter, Sparrowhawk, the adult females are not rufous at all)

A raptor kill purloined by a mammal predator is quite possible, that could add to the range of species possible with birds that wouldn't be expected on a garden lawn, maybe an immature gull (Herring, or Great Black-back)

Could you perhaps do some pics of individual feathers, or the wing cleaned up and smoothed out a bit to see the features a bit more clearly? (wear disposable latex gloves when handling for health & safety!)

Michael

[pauco]

hi loggah
what size pussy cats do you have over there? big are what?
bert.

[loggah]

My husband examined the feather pile I found yesterday, and he immediately said it looked like the remains of a chicken! Maybe he is right. I don't know if anyone nearby keeps barred rocks, but I will ask around. Maybe a fox/dog/coyote killed one and dragged it to my lawn to dine.

[Michael Frankis]

I've never measured a chicken's primary length, but I'd be surprised if they were as much as 10", I'd think more like 7-8".

One clue to look for - like all gamebirds, chickens have quite strongly curved primaries, shaped like a bracket )

If the primaries are not curved, it isn't a chicken, if they are, it probably is.

Michael

[stevo]

To eliminate another raptor as being the killer of your bird ,take a look at the feather shafts animals such as foxes , nibble the shafts leaving a notched appearance as opposed to a raptor.

Regards Stevo.

[jayhunter]

I would prefer it to be a chicken taken by a fox, rather than a raptor. Come on Loggah put us out of our misery.

[janetclark]

Again this look's like a cat kill, a fox or another bird of pray would have taken it away with them.