Sparrowhawk takes out magpie

[Mosnan]

This could be disturbing for some people if you dont like watching bird v bird in nature so be advised!


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=5fb_1271801243

You have to wait till the end to see the clever bit!

Thought it might be worth sharing

Nicolas

 

[shaneh]

Just because it was making so much noise...

 

[JonathanD]

Smart things Sparrowhawks.

 

[_scorpio_]

saw this clip on springwatch a while ago. i am not sure it was intentional really and it just ended up in there and took advantage of the situation it had fallen in rather than planned it.

 

[JonathanD]

saw this clip on springwatch a while ago. i am not sure it was intentional really and it just ended up in there and took advantage of the situation it had fallen in rather than planned it.

It was certainly intentional, they do it quite regularly when given the right circumstances. A freind of mine has seen the same thing happen on the banks of a canal.

 

[gregs656]

Very impressive.

 

[Neumo]

Clever old bird. Well you learn something new every day

 

[Melonfish]

talk about screaming bloody murder!
but a seriously clever sparrowhawk there i must admit

 

[dwardo]

saw this clip on springwatch a while ago. i am not sure it was intentional really and it just ended up in there and took advantage of the situation it had fallen in rather than planned it.

I find it a bit hard to believe too, surely it would be too risky for one bird to try and drown another. i am sure a pike would like to come across that too.

 

[JonathanD]

I find it a bit hard to believe too, surely it would be too risky for one bird to try and drown another. i am sure a pike would like to come across that too.

Check out the WildaboutBritain forums. Quite a few people have witnessed it happen in birdbaths or shallow ponds. Herring Gulls do it all of the time, so why not a sophisticated predator like the SH.

 

[dwardo]

I just would have thought it would be hard to judge the depth of the water first before dragging the prey into it. If it was a lot deeper it may have struggled. I guess what i would want to see is it draggin they prey a good distance to a bit of water that wasnt right next to it.

Not saying they are not capable or intelligent enough just the risks involved for a bird of prey that has to hunt to live.

 

[_scorpio_]

they are pretty clever though. i assume its a learnt skill and develops with practice in the right area so those who aren't good at it stick to conventional methods or do it wrong and become fish food.
the magpies are by far the smarter bird though...

 

[JonathanD]

I would imagine they only use water when it is very close and the opportunity arises.

 

[_scorpio_]

though a juvenile one would have trouble and possibly not even consider it, especially if it has never seen another do it before. you would think it would be a skill only known in one area but the bluetits across the country pretty much simultaneously worked out the milk bottle lid problem, so maybe word spreads fast