Bird of prey v crow

jayvee64 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 10:10 PM

Out for a walk today near local canal when we heard an almighty screeching coming from above. Two birds, one was most definitely a crow and the other a lager bird, which I'm sure was a bird of prey. They seemed to meet in the air but eventually separated after making a hell of a noise. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera and was tussling with an impatient 4 yr old son. I'd love to know what the bird of prey was, could only see it had pointed wings and flew hellishly fast. Don't know what sort of birds of prey would be local to this area of west yorks, which I'd guess you'd call semi rural. Lots of trees in the area I was in today though. Very vague I'm afraid but any ideas what that bird could have been?

faz · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 07:09 AM

hello my instinct reading yout thread was a buzzard being mobbed then i read the" pointed wings" and fast it sounds like a falcon and the only native falcon in the uk capable of taking a crow is a peregrine falcon ( falco peregrinus) which is 15_ 19 " so a big bird of prey and of course the fastest living thing on the planet in a stoop can reach speeds of up to 200 mph +

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 07:22 AM

That is interesting, I wonder if the Crow spotted the Hawk and started to mob
it then got too close before anyother birds could join in or if it was a predator and prey attack.
Crows and other large corvids are not what I would class as easy prey as the outcome of this tussle would seem to bear out.

rossy · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 09:06 AM

what size approx was the bop , pointed wings suggest a peregrine as faz put, and peregrines will and have had crows, but having said that the crow had got too close to the nest of the peregrine, and was had by the parents as they had chicks in, might have been a young one passing over ? rossy.

Lemars · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 09:33 AM

Hello - new to the site and found this post because I've seen something similar. Not that I can answer the question, as such. I just thought I'd say that I've seen a pair of crows chase off a buzzard (which was what caught my attention).
Having dispatched one buzzard (probably a distance of several hundred metres) both crows returned and targeted (yes, they did) the other of the buzzard pair and chased that off too. I know this area and I'm sure there were no nests there - it was also getting a bit late for new chicks to be about. There were no young birds about either. I thought it was territorial behaviour. Any comments ??

rossy · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 09:49 AM

hello lemars and welcome, good call on the terrortorial suggestion , as crows will defend their patch, and see off any others that venture into it, you also see this with bop being mobbed by corvids, also if a heron comes over they get aggitated and mob them as well, if ever a sparrowhawk is around , birds go up in numbers too and circle ,in attempt to confuse the hawk and not become lunch , pigeons have also adopted this techniqe. rossy.

Lemars · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 12:12 PM

Thank you Rossy - I thought that was it. What suprised me, though, was the way that the pair flew so far away to dispose of the one buzzard and came back to the other (unhesitaitingly). Buzzard 2 was apparently minding its own business sitting on a roll of hay/straw in the middle of a small field. Not for long though. Definitely NIMBY behaviour then. Thank you

diggleken · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 12:51 PM

this sounds distinctly like Sparrowhawk behaviour, especially the wrestling match between the two birds.
Sparrowhawks are not as quick to kill the prey as Peregrines (when they stoop).
Just one thought though, if you arent sure of the BOP, might the black bird have been a Jackdaw? These are often tried for by sparrowhawks and this is behaviour I have seen before, when the birds eventually split and fly apart, both somewhat tattered if there isnt a kill.
Dont forget the female is quite a bit larger too and if hungry may well try a Crow.
Cheers
Ken

seamusagleann · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 12:59 PM

crows don't only attack other birds ,coming home one afternoon i spotted two chasing a pine marten across a road! poor thing was really getting stick!

jayvee64 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2010, 06:51 PM

Well thanks for all the replies. It was definitely a crow and I did think what happened was a territorial display but not sure who's territory was being threatened! Honestly, it's the first time I've ever see a bird of prey "in the flesh"
so peregrine or sparrowhawk ( it appeared too small for a buzzard), it made my day!