Dead bird ID please.

andywolves · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 06:56 PM

Evening all!
Found this poor thing underneath the conifers earlier today, probably died in the nest a while ago and now blown out by the rising winds. Any idea what it is? The slight hook to the beak and the rather large feet have me stumped!

Thanks in advance!

Gerel · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 06:59 PM

Looks like a squab, a young pigeon.

Littlesparrow · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 07:00 PM

Wood pigeons have a curved beak like that, is it quite a big chick?

Dorts · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 07:14 PM

I agree, Wood Pigeon. The 'squabs' become bigger than the parents before they fledge. Then lose weight ready for flying.
(I used to keep pigeons).
Dorts.

andywolves · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 07:22 PM

Wood pigeon was my gut feeling...it is/was about the size of a thrush so i was quite large for something so young, although as I said, the hooked beak threw me.

actionfinch · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 08:15 PM

If you dont mind me asking Andywolves...

The quesion being what do we think happened to it

werdnal · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2011, 08:58 PM

Depending on where you found it, either fallen from or taken from a nest. We had one dropped, dazed but uninjured in our garden by a sparrowhawk a couple years ago. I raised it as we keep domestic pigeons anway.

Our neighbours also had one fall from a nest, and although my hubby got a ladder and climbed up and put it back, they found it dead in their garden the next day.

They make notoriously spindly nests, and the parents and other nest mates can be quite clumsy, so falls are frequent. Woodies, and indeed most domestics and town feral pigeons can breed all year round.