Bird predators - Warning! Graphic images (1 Viewer)

J

jrcummins84

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #1

Hey,

I Saw a Robin perched in a tree with a missing head. I was wondering if there was any predator that would drag one up and only take the head. Feathers Nd everything else was in fact. I have a pic but did not want to offend anyone. I am in N Illinois

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Aug 11, 2018

• #2

You can post the pic.

Once you do, I'll edit the title of your thread that it might be hard to look at.

 

J

jrcummins84

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #3

Thanks will do in just a min... not trying to be gruesome just seemed odd and was curious

 

J

jrcummins84

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g7jZhdDKnwvth6-Z4rqkFa_R-X_9RF2z/view?usp=drivesdkHere are the picshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1nxz32Ucj8zWW1C3Qsrt6yTKsCx98zude/view?
usp=drivesdk

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Aug 11, 2018

• #5

I can't imagine what happened here unless the attacker was scared off by something.

 

ElCucuy

Well-known member

• Aug 11, 2018

• #6

maybe it was a kitty cat

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Aug 12, 2018

• #7

Accipiter, disturbed before it finished feeding.

Consider:

- prey killed neatly (most likely caught by deep puncture wounds from talons and then a bite to the back of the neck severing the spine - often leads to headlessness in Accipiter victims)

- in tree (Accipiters often take prey to a plucking post to feed: sometimes a favourite one but can be nearest convenient)

In fact probably disturbed before it started feeding, let alone finished.

Was the head under the tree? If not, that increases the chance it was an Accipiter that killed elsewhere and moved the body.

John

 

J

jrcummins84

Well-known member

• Aug 12, 2018

• #8

No head near the tree thanks for the info

 

Ian Lewis

aka Gryllo

• Aug 16, 2018

• #9

I think accipiters will decapitate their prey then fly with it to a plucking post.

I once had a Eurasian Sparrowhawk hit my mist net. It got out before I could get to it but it left behind a decapitated Northern Wheatear.