Does this look like the work of a hawk? (1 Viewer)

[LadyLux]

In our area, we have a significant number of hawks. While our pigeon cage was being cleaned last night, one of the pigeons that had never been outside was accidentally let out. Despite our efforts, we were unable to coax it back inside. When my son returned home from school, he discovered the poor bird with his head missing. I suspect a hawk may have caught it, although I would have expected the hawk to consume the entire pigeon. We live in CA. Thoughts on this?

 

[leifvester]

Really not sure, possibly a cat did this?

I would expect a hawk to have made more of a mess, more feathers scattered and more damage to the body. At least from what I've seen Sparrowhawk and Raven do.

Decapitation seems like such a cat thing to do. Innocent until proven guilty though!

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

A hawk would normally pluck feathers,
cats also would pluck at least larger feathers , in my experience...but maybe there are exceptions...

I have seen pigeons and Common terns killed by Brown Rat , Rattus norvegicus, where the feeding looked similar - I suspect a rat- and yes they can cill live pigeons if thoye are confined somewhere or are ambushed.
Adult common terns were killed on the nest after the rats had learned to behave like ambush predators.


Some such incidences also with freeflying feral pigeons and rats it seems (not nice pictures)

Google Image Result for https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article6623017.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/Rat-attacking-pigeon.jpg

Raging rat brutally attacks pigeon in NYC showdown: 'I think I'm traumatized'

The streets of “Zoo York” are really getting rough.

nypost.com