Three feathers snipped

monkeyrepublic · #1 (**permalink**) 22-06-2011, 08:30 AM

Dear WAB folk,

I found three feathers at the bottom of a massive old oak. They'd been snipped at the base - which I rather think is bird of prey. One was a tiny jay feather, with electric blue banding. The other two were large and brown to black (also jay?).

If they were jay, what might be preying on them? I don't exactly live in eagle territory. In my five years in the area, I've only once seen a buzzard... I didn't imagine they'd be resident there. We do have sparrow hawks, I'm reliably informed, but are they not too small to take jays?

monkeyrepublic

Farplace · #2 (**permalink**) 22-06-2011, 08:41 AM

I am no expert, and I am sure someone will be along in a minute to prove me wrong, but I would be inclined to go for sparrowhawk. They can take pigeons, so they can take Jays if the opportunity presented itself.

faz · #3 (**permalink**) 22-06-2011, 08:47 AM

hi welcome to WAB yes as jan says a sparrowhawk

triops · #4 (**permalink**) 22-06-2011, 09:52 AM

I've always been told that birds of prey cannot snip feathers, they are always plucked or torn out. Snipped or cut feathers are usually the result of a mammal feeding with sharp cutting teeth. Anyone with any more information?

Foz · #5 (**permalink**) 22-06-2011, 10:04 AM

Sprawks often "snip" larger feathers.
Females are capable of taking quite large prey if they are hungry enough.
The biggest kill I have seen was a carrion crow, but Jays, magpies, teal and waders are very common prey.

Clive

actionfinch · #6 (**permalink**) 22-06-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triops

I've always been told that birds of prey cannot snip feathers, they are always plucked or torn out. Snipped or cut feathers are usually the result of a mammal feeding with sharp cutting teeth. Anyone with any more information?

I have read something simular...
prehaps a sparrowhawk caught it , and didnt fancy it then along came mr fox or something and made it theres...

stil a jay feather with blue on it , must look nice....i always look at the feathers i find ....

monkeyrepublic · #7 (**permalink**) 23-06-2011, 07:14 PM

Thanks, folks. Didn't know sparrowhawks were so tough. I'll keep an eye on the site, maybe catch sight of one. (I doubt a fox could snip, personally - I've seen enough chewed pigeon feathers. Now a rabbit, that would have the right equipment for snipping!)

monkeyrepublic · #8 (**permalink**) 24-06-2011, 09:18 PM

Having scoffed at mammallian feather snipping, I returned to the site today and found more feathers - all snipped, very small (tit?) - inside a hollow, in front of a fist-size hole in the ground. Perhaps I got ahead of myself with glamorous birds of prey... but could any small mammal possibly be responsible for these signs?