The eye of the dead Woodpigeon remained - and it was staring right at me!

[Deb London]

I spotted a dead Woody today. I immediately went over to try and discover clues as to what had killed it, for example by looking at the feathers (which were plucked rather than chewed, so I surmised that the predator was possibly a Sparrowhawk). The carcass was very fresh, and the flesh looked like it had been pecked, possibly by nearby crows.

I then noticed its eye. Everything had been eaten all around it and it was sticking out. And it was very fresh-looking and it seemed to be totally untouched. And it was staring right at me. I shall remember this moment of eye-to-eye contact for quite some time as it was simply horrible.

Why would the predators and scavengers leave the eye? Is this common?

[Wild-Woman]

Yes quite disconcerting I should imagine. Usually the flies are first on a kill, especially the eyes.
I would imagine the flesh is more nutritious, so why waste time on something that's mostly water perhaps?

[Deb London]

Thanks WW. I reckon that must be right. It was the way that they ate everything else and totally missed out the eye that surprised me. No sign of a skull. Wish I'd taken the camera now. I have a feeling that crows did this. Quite intelligent and expert butchers I think.

[htcdude]

Maybe the predator was saving the eye for dessert, was gonna have it with some ice-cream, but it got scared off?

I'm a bit worried about you Deb eyeing up dead birds...

[Deb London]

Ha, ha.

When you write ice-cream Nige, I think you mean EYE---SCREAM.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Ha, ha.

When you write ice-cream Nige, I think you mean EYE---SCREAM.

Get yer coat Deb

[Brocakat]

That's a bit strange & I'm not suprised you found it disconcerting, Deb.

I thought that Crows / Corvids actually targeted the eyes of a dead OR dying animal/bird first........

I must be honest & declare that eyes DO 'follow you around' whether they be on-a-picture & ( looking straight ahead ) or on a dead creature. Maybe that's why they are 'better' closed. Rather disturbing - unless /until one gets used to it.

It is horrible when flies start to gather there-( not many in winter-time of course)......but it's just one of the first things in the process of returning
the material 'to the ground'

[Deb London]

Thanks Brocakat. I will look more closely at other carcasses now as I was surprised. I will get a shot if I see this again.

[actionfinch]

Originally Posted by htcdude

Get yer coat Deb

I will have to keep an 'eye' out for that , i see a dead woody with no head at all,and the rest was intact.

[Dogghound]

On smaller birds like these the brain is the part of the body most often eaten. It common to find bird remains with the eye untouched, you often find the head with eyes intact decapitated from the body with the brain eaten. Larger birds and fish inparticular often have the eyes removed by gulls and corvids.