Violent Mistle thrushes...

[k4t3]

I was reminded by a post earlier today of an incident I witnessed in spring this last year. A large female sparrowhawk had taken a house sparrow from the bird feeder, flown it into the back garden and was plucking it under the fence. A pair of Mistle thrushes (with fledglings nearby) were dive bombing her and shrieking alarm calls, often getting dangerously close to the hawk- they harried her for a good 5 minutes, swooping almost to touch her and alarm calling all the while. Is this normal? It was definately a sparrow the hawk had...I could understand this behaviour if she had taken their young

[aeshna5]

It's quite likely the Mistle Thrushes also had a nest/young + were trying to drive away this predator. They can be very brave in protecting their progeny + often seen attacking Crows + Magpies getting too close.

[k4t3]

Thx Aeshna, I never seen a bird attack a predator in such a way before..they were so determined! Brave little souls, those Mistle thrushes!