Decapitated starling

Kats · #1 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 04:41 PM

Hi, I have just joined the site and live in Seaford on the South Coast. I wanted to know what could have neatly taken a fledgling starling's head off as I found the body in my garden under the bird feeder yesterday. We do have a peregrine nearby and also sparrowhawks visit the garden or maybe it was a cat? I would love to know your thoughts.

valleyforge · #2 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 05:02 PM

Cats will typically eat the heads off of birds or small mammals, leaving the remainder of the carcass.

I suspect that this behaviour is an attempt by the cat to satisfy its innate need to supplement a particular lack of vitamins, minerals or amino acids in its normal diet ... if it's your cat, perhaps look at providing it with a more rounded intake of nutrients, taurine in particular.

Kats · #3 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 05:40 PM

Thanks. Yes it may have been my cat, although I'm not sure as there are quite a few cats round here, but will have a look at her diet.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 05:56 PM

I give my dog a chewable children's multi vitamin tablet from the supermarket maybe half a tablet a day for a cat.

Kats · #5 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 06:50 PM

Thanks for the advice, will have a look into buying multivitamins for her.

RKB · #6 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 07:00 PM

Most predators (including sparrowhawks) often go for the head first, or only, as the brain contains more calories than any other organ in the body (due to all the fats in the nerve connections).

Pipa · #7 (**permalink**) 18-05-2011, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kats

Hi, I have just joined the site and live in Seaford on the South Coast. I wanted to know what could have neatly taken a fledgling starling's head off as I found the body in my garden under the bird feeder yesterday. We do have a peregrine nearby and also sparrowhawks visit the garden or maybe it was a cat? I would love to know your thoughts.

our neighbours cats often do that, kill them, eat its head ;(

shadowx · #8 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 03:35 PM

Agreed, a few years ago our cat bought in a starling head, i threw it out only to be rewarded with the body a bit later!

honeywebb · #9 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 01:28 PM

Makes you wonder why we all love our cats so much!!

Anzu · #10 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 01:55 PM

A couple of weeks ago I found some gold primary wing feathers of a goldfinch in my garden and there were little grey feathers strewn about on the lawn. A few days later the head of the goldfinch suddenly appeared on my lawn!

Later that day the head disappeared again so now I'm scared of treading on it when I go into the garden with bare feet lol. Never did see the Goldfinch's body anywhere though...