Dove death ?

[Steve JH]

Over the past 3 days a Dove has been using my garden as a sanctuary,it had been injured in some way,some feathers missing on back,could fly but not far,took feed and water from the low down feeders in my garden, It must have chose to roost on the ground last night,well the Dove did not survive,but its the way it did not survive that baffles me,it had been eaten,most of it had gone including the head and beak ??
Lets say that there are no Cats or Rats in the area ,never seen a Stote type in the garden,,Can a Headge Hog do this type of thing..
Any ideas

[The Woodman]

Hi Steve

Difficult to say what caused the injuries to the dove, a strike or escape from the talons of a Sparrowhawk perhaps.

If you're sure about the absence of cats and rats, I would be thinking about Fox. Hedgehog will eat carrion but in my limited experience they strip the flesh to the bone and I wouldn't think they would remove head and beak.

Polecat or Mink could be in the frame depending on where you live.

I'm sure you will get more views on this.

[Hobjob]

Common things being common, I'd go for Sparrowhawk.

[werdnal]

We have lost a few of our pet pigeons to sparrowhawks. They tend to eat the bird from the top down - ie head, neck, chest cavity and internals, and leave the wings and an empty rib cage. The doves original injuries sound like a sparrowhawk escape, with the damage to its back, so perhaps the hawk came back.

However, if it was staying in your garden, it could have just died because of its injuries, and a passing rat, crow or magpie took advantage of the free meal. You cannot be absolutely sure there are no rats in the area as they can be pretty ellusive and if you have low bird feeders, chances are you have rats!

Was it a collared dove?

[Kayleigh]

Sparrowhawks eat the brains first but they leave the beak..

[Steve JH]

Hello yes it was a collard dove.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Steve JH

Hello yes it was a collard dove.

A favourite quarry of Sparrowhawks.