A few years ago I witnessed a Carrion Crow attack and kill, and then begin to eat, a Black-tailed Godwit at Inner Marsh Farm RSPB.
Andrea Wilson said
Tue Nov 12 4:10 PM, 2019
If you get chance over the winter watch crows in the snow. Spent a very enjoyable 20mins once watching 2 crows playing in 3-4 inches. There's no other way to describe what they were doing as anything but play. At first I thought they were digging for food but then started rolling around and pushing snow over each other.
John Williams said
Mon Nov 11 12:17 PM, 2019
Crows are very much underrated for entertainment value, most birders usually just ignore them. They are however highly intelligent birds and fascinating to watch, the hyenas of our birdlife. I have been watching large flocks of Lapwings, Teal, Black headed Gulls and sometimes Woodpigeons too, in the presence of other birders, when the these birds have flushed en-masse. Every birder then quickly searches the whole vista for a raptor or fox, I have noticed though, especially on Elton Hall Flash near Sandbach that the agitator was often a Carrion Crow.
The crow would fly straight at a Lapwing sized bird in a flock, this bird then flushed causing the whole group to erupt. Once the mass flock of potential prey species was in the air, the crow twisted and turned it's head searching for a weakling to attack. Once identified the victim would be targeted, and around the Cheshire meres I have seen them kill weak birds and enjoy a good meal, the prey species were usually Lapwings, Black Headed Gulls or pigeons. I recently reported a Carrion Crow attacking a Snipe at Sandbach, only the small waders agility in flight allowed it to escape.
So it is likely that if a crow sees a lone Woodpigeon, and the corvid is hungry, it will test the ability of the pigeon to defend itself. Perhaps the crow has seen a female Sparrowhawk succeed in targeting an adult Woodpigeon, although corvids will mob raptors to chase them away, they will always carefully watch the predator too. If there is a kill the crow will get the scraps, or even chase off the raptor and claim the prize.
Woodpigeons have to be tough as they are a favoured prey species for numerous predators. If attacked by an opportunist like a crow the pigeon has to prove it is fit an not an easy meal.
Regarding the intelligence of crows, I recently witnessed the interaction of a Carrion Crow and a Magpie, they would fly at each other and peck at their opponents feet, this went on for quite a while and resulted in the corvids chasing each other around. This certainly looked like a childs game of tag, and I could only deduce that both corvids were just having fun. Play is something we only associate with mammals, especially young ones, so for birds to be seen indulging in having fun really means corvids are truly special.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Fri Nov 8 11:54 PM, 2019
Not only Woodpigeons but I have seen Collared Doves do what Richard Thew describes this with Jackdaws and Magpies. Collared Doves look very gentle.
Richard Thew said
Thu Oct 17 2:42 PM, 2019
Wood pigeons may look defenceless, but they can suprisingly pull quite a punch with by striking out with their wings - Believe me- it can hurt alot. It's possible the crow may have been "testing" the wood pigeon or just simply teasing it. But that part I can only speculate on I'm afraid without seeing exactly what happened.
Charles Coutts said
Mon Oct 14 6:03 PM, 2019
Outside my flat,Just noticed a scuffle,A vicious Crow picking a fight with a timid Wood Pigeon.
Glad to say The Woody Stood his Ground and sent the Crow packing,has anyone else seen this,as
I thought the Crow,with his reputation,would of easily got the upper hand
If you get chance over the winter watch crows in the snow. Spent a very enjoyable 20mins once watching 2 crows playing in 3-4 inches. There's no other way to describe what they were doing as anything but play. At first I thought they were digging for food but then started rolling around and pushing snow over each other.
They are however highly intelligent birds and fascinating to watch, the hyenas of our birdlife.
I have been watching large flocks of Lapwings, Teal, Black headed Gulls and sometimes Woodpigeons too,
in the presence of other birders, when the these birds have flushed en-masse. Every birder then quickly
searches the whole vista for a raptor or fox, I have noticed though, especially on Elton Hall Flash near
Sandbach that the agitator was often a Carrion Crow.
The crow would fly straight at a Lapwing sized bird in a flock, this bird then flushed causing the whole group
to erupt. Once the mass flock of potential prey species was in the air, the crow twisted and turned it's head
searching for a weakling to attack. Once identified the victim would be targeted, and around the Cheshire meres
I have seen them kill weak birds and enjoy a good meal, the prey species were usually Lapwings, Black Headed Gulls
or pigeons. I recently reported a Carrion Crow attacking a Snipe at Sandbach, only the small waders agility in flight
allowed it to escape.
So it is likely that if a crow sees a lone Woodpigeon, and the corvid is hungry, it will test the ability of the pigeon to
defend itself. Perhaps the crow has seen a female Sparrowhawk succeed in targeting an adult Woodpigeon, although
corvids will mob raptors to chase them away, they will always carefully watch the predator too. If there is a kill the
crow will get the scraps, or even chase off the raptor and claim the prize.
Woodpigeons have to be tough as they are a favoured prey species for numerous predators. If attacked by an opportunist
like a crow the pigeon has to prove it is fit an not an easy meal.
Regarding the intelligence of crows, I recently witnessed the interaction of a Carrion Crow and a Magpie, they would fly
at each other and peck at their opponents feet, this went on for quite a while and resulted in the corvids chasing each
other around. This certainly looked like a childs game of tag, and I could only deduce that both corvids were just having fun.
Play is something we only associate with mammals, especially young ones, so for birds to be seen indulging in having fun
really means corvids are truly special.
Not only Woodpigeons but I have seen Collared Doves do what Richard Thew describes this with Jackdaws and Magpies. Collared Doves look very gentle.
Outside my flat,Just noticed a scuffle,A vicious Crow picking a fight with a timid Wood Pigeon.
Glad to say The Woody Stood his Ground and sent the Crow packing,has anyone else seen this,as
I thought the Crow,with his reputation,would of easily got the upper hand