Jays are no different to Magpies. (1 Viewer)

[ChrisKten]

I guess most are aware that Magpies have a bad reputation. Magpies aren't "evil", they are just intelligent and opportunistic predators.

Jays on the other hand, don't seem to have the same reputation at all. Some seem to welcome Jays in the garden, but not Magpies (I welcome all wildlife).

Now I've been feeding Jays nuts in shells for years, they've never troubled other birds, in fact they get scared off by the Pigeons sometimes. I'm aware that Jays are just as opportunist as other Corvids, but I've never actually witnessed any predatory behaviour, until today...

About an hour ago I heard the alarm calls I'm used to hearing when a Sparrowhawk attacks. The Sparrows were going mad, and so was a Blackbird. So I looked out and saw nothing, no Sparrowhawk, no Cats, nothing. Then I saw small feathers floating down from high in the tree, so I looked up and saw nothing at first. So I got my binoculars and looked again, expecting to see a Sparrowhawk in the tree eating a Sparrow. But it wasn't a Sparrowhawk, it was a Jay.

The Jay didn't care I was watching, as it was high up, it was plucking either a Sparrow, or perhaps a nestling Blackbird. I'm really not sure, as it was too deep in the tree, and the light wasn't good enough to make out the prey clearly. But from what I could see, the prey was no bigger than a Starling.

I watched the Jay plucking and eating, the feathers still floating down, for about 20 minutes, then it flew off. I think it took it's meal with it, but I'm not sure. Perhaps what's left will fall out of the tree later, and I might have a better idea what the Jay killed.

There's a bit more to this story, as I'm pretty sure I know why the Jay took a bird instead of the nuts today. My neighbour is in the garden digging close to my fence. The Jays land on, or bounce off of, my fence before they land in the garden. So today the Jays are too nervous to get the nuts, so went for a bird instead.(yet another reason to dislike my neighbours |=)|)

So here's a lesson for all those that think Jays are "nice" and Magpies are "nasty", they are both the same.

 

[Wigwam]

ah but Jays are better looking and rarer. Ive nothing against magpies, i think they are really intelligent , watch this clip of Rooney the Magpie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2zTAixMIQ

Now Sparrowhawks are the only birds I dislike, I mean eating pigeons while they're still alive - not right.

Rooney is great though

 

[DunnoKev]

Jays on the other hand, don't seem to have the same reputation at all.

Actually in the countryside they do. For instance, most landowners controlling corvids will target jays because they recognise them as a problem species, e.g. see http://www.basc.org.uk/en/codes-of-practice/trapping-pest-birds.cfm

 

[ChrisKten]

ah but Jays are better looking and rarer. Ive nothing against magpies, i think they are really intelligent , watch this clip of Rooney the Magpie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2zTAixMIQ

Now Sparrowhawks are the only birds I dislike, I mean eating pigeons while they're still alive - not right.

Rooney is great though

I've nothing against any wildlife. I see Sparrowhawks often in my garden, as soon as the prey stops struggling enough, they start plucking and eating. It's because they don't have a "kill shot", if the bird is small enough the shock of the strike can kill it. For larger birds (Starlings, Collard Doves, etc.), it seems to depend on where the talons enter the prey.

Actually in the countryside they do. For instance, most landowners controlling corvids will target jays because they recognise them as a problem species, e.g. see http://www.basc.org.uk/en/codes-of-practice/trapping-pest-birds.cfm

Yeah, I'm not surprised. It's completely different in Urban areas though, Magpies seem to get the blame for everything here.