Any idea what’s doing this?

[Dunwaters]

As per title,
I’m finding well fledged blackbird chicks missing their heads.
What the hell is doing it?
Magpies would be top of the list, but there are sparrowhawks and grey crows about too. The only thing missing is the head and the carcasses are always under a bush.

Sorry for the graphic photo.

 

[finnbear270]

moggies

 

[GeoffWood]

Grey Squirrels?

 

[Dunwaters]

Deffo not squirrels or cats.
Maggers, grey crows or spars would be my best guess.

 

[Goingback]

Sparrow hawk or Tawny. Give it a gentle pluck and you may see talon marks

 

[Mungo]

I’d guess sparrowhawk.

 

[Demetrius]

Whatever it is, remember, they gotta eat, too.....

D.

 

[Dunwaters]

Whatever it is, remember, they gotta eat, too.....

D.

I have no problem with them eating, I really don’t like the waste.

 

[weblyish]

Would have thought sparrowhawk kills that got dropped somehow.
They usually take the head off at the kill site which often has a puff of feather
Then they remove the body to eat

Just not clear why they are abandoning the kill

 

[jall55]

We find a few poults in the first few days just like this
Historically some of our old lads always thought / said tawny owl but these days im leaning towards corvids - crows in particular
I of course could be wrong and the crows are simply attracted to the already killed poults
I wonder if BASC have any thoughts @Conor O'Gorman - any studies / thoughts at all Conor ?

 

[Goingback]

We find a few poults in the first few days just like this
Historically some of our old lads always thought / said tawny owl but these days im leaning towards corvids - crows in particular
I of course could be wrong and the crows are simply attracted to the already killed poults
I wonder if BASC have any thoughts @Conor O'Gorman - any studies / thoughts at all Conor ?

Corvids eat quickly and start on the breast. This is classic raptor m.o.
They will eat their fill, unless disturbed and should come back and take another feed

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

We find a few poults in the first few days just like this
Historically some of our old lads always thought / said tawny owl but these days im leaning towards corvids - crows in particular
I of course could be wrong and the crows are simply attracted to the already killed poults
I wonder if BASC have any thoughts @Conor O'Gorman - any studies / thoughts at all Conor ?

I don't recall any studies or comments on this by BASC, GWCT etc. but whether for the OP or your case or others my own view would be usually one of a variety of usual suspects either cats, hawks, falcons and owls, and carrion/hooded/grey crows, as already covered by others above.

 

[downwind]

Would have thought sparrowhawk kills that got dropped somehow.
They usually take the head off at the kill site which often has a puff of feather
Then they remove the body to eat

Just not clear why they are abandoning the kill

Sparrowhawk, feeding on the breast of this starling. Head still where it should be.

 

[sh1kar]

Owls

 

[angusb1]

I've watched kestrels take the heads off birds first then eat from the neck so it could be a bird of prey.

 

[Mickeydredd]

Falcons will often decapitate, hawks don’t tend to.
Breast eaten suggests raptor, but they would usually carry off, at this time of year especially but it may have been disturbed.

 

[jall55]

Falcons will often decapitate, hawks don’t tend to.
Breast eaten suggests raptor, but they would usually carry off, at this time of year especially but it may have been disturbed.

Thats my experience Micky - they always kill - get their breathe back - the carry off

 

[weblyish]

Sparrowhawk, feeding on the breast of this starling. Head still where it should be.

Great pic by the way

 

[Pellet Pinger]

Sparrowhawk, feeding on the breast of this starling. Head still where it should be.

Same here in our garden, they don’t bother taking the head off, just get stuck in!

 

[Daisymay]

Owl