magpie attacking fully grown blackbird (1 Viewer)

i just watched a magpie attack, twice, by jumping at and pecking hard at head, a fully fledged this years' blackbird. saved by father blackbird diving in.

i previously remarked in my 'daily delights in lymm' thread that this lass had lost her tail feathers, i assumed to a cat but now i wonder

are magpies predators beyond egg stealing or nest raiding? it was on an open lawn and paths at front, no food squabble i could see. no magpie young nearby.

are magpies predators beyond egg stealing or nest raiding?

Click to expand...

I would say yes, without a doubt. Maybe not as a habit, but they are certainly capable of it.

Some people might find this video upsetting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvNY17b02do

Magpies are, of course, opportunistic scavengers, so I suspect they would have to be fairly desperate to bother.

thank you. i never knew of that. explains why even the jackdaws here disappear when magpie shows up. this one bowled the young blackbird right over, jumped onto it and stabbed at the head. brave dad too, went straight in, wings, beak and claws. i have been calling him 'scruff' for weeks because his head feathers are tatty and he has lost some of his tail. now i know why i shall call him 'braveheart'.