Tawny Owl attacking Stock Dove in London (1 Viewer)

[jamesdee]

I was in Cannizaro park in Wimbledon, heard the female call, and was answered by a couple of chicks. I got excited by the prospect of seeing a Tawny by day and headed in the direction of the females call - disturbed a bird which immediately fled leaving a very battered, bloody and half plucked pigeon tottering around.


I was wondering if anyone else heard of this kind of behaviour?

It was the middle of the day.. afternoon in fact.

 

[Adam W]

I was in Cannizaro park in Wimbledon, heard the female call, and was answered by a couple of chicks. I got excited by the prospect of seeing a Tawny by day and headed in the direction of the females call - disturbed a bird which immediately fled leaving a very battered, bloody and half plucked pigeon tottering around.


I was wondering if anyone else heard of this kind of behaviour?

It was the middle of the day.. afternoon in fact.

Well its not that unusual for Tawny Owls to take other birds I would think they could manage a Pigeon and having young to feed at this time of year means its more likely that Owls will be out hunting during daylight hours.
I havent had any first hand experience of this behaviour but its probably not that unusual though actually seeing it is another matter.

 

[jamesdee]

I wasn't sure that Tawny's took birds at all but they obviously do.. and big ones too.

It's weird that it plucked it before killing it... it was really badly hurt on the back of it's head - all feathers gone from that part and covered in blood.. much of he back also plucked.. but the bird was still alive.. could possibly have survived but I don't know where it hobbled off to.. perhaps taken by a fox or the Owl.. maybe died of shock.

 

[Adam W]

I wasn't sure that Tawny's took birds at all but they obviously do.. and big ones too.

It's weird that it plucked it before killing it... it was really badly hurt on the back of it's head - all feathers gone from that part and covered in blood.. much of he back also plucked.. but the bird was still alive.. could possibly have survived but I don't know where it hobbled off to.. perhaps taken by a fox or the Owl.. maybe died of shock.

I seen quite a few photo's of birds of prey eating birds while they are still alive and i guess some might escape half way through but i wouldnt fancy their chances of surviving for very long.

There's a really gruesome photo somewhere I'm sure someone will be able to post a link to it of a Gull that has been attacked by a Peregrine and everything around the neck and throat has been removed by the Peregrine but the gull is still standing up alive.

 

[jamesdee]

Sounds similar. I have a photo of the Dove btw but it's not totally revealing.

 

[jamesdee]

Stock Dove

here's the photo...

 

[Adam W]

Wow thats pretty awful but very interesting all the same, certainly wont have lasted long in a state like that I wouldnt have thought.

 

[jamesdee]

Probably not - i was surprised it didn't drop it's head and die in shock.. it managed to get away from me ok.. although not on the wing... it scrambled away.. not all that convincingly but eventually it disappeared into the shrubbery..

 

[Firecrest5]

i used to have one which still hunted roosting bids from the telephone wire at the front of my garden, whilst nighttime taffic went by a few yards away.

Found 3 big thrush chicks and an adult robin in its nestbox once, so obviously a bird specialist!!

I wasn't sure that Tawny's took birds at all but they obviously do.. and big ones too.

 

[Norbawl]

Tawny owls often take birds especialy urban owls. Up to the size of thrushes is most common but they can manage larger birds. They most often take roosting birds and it is fairly uncommon for Tawnies to be out during the day unless the young are very hungry.
keith

 

[jamesdee]

Well I did hear the calls before I see the Owl and it seemed to be one Kee-wick, followed by two chicks replying with a Kee-wick type call... do chicks make that call? Or a similar call? Are the calls gender specific in young birds?

Are they in fact totally gender specific in adult birds? do males ever make a kee-wick type call. Questions, questions, questions. : )

 

[joeteds]

Heres a link to the pics Adam W mentioned
Warning - The last 2 not very nice at all but incredible all the same
http://www.hemmy.net/2007/12/07/bird-survives-vicious-hawk-attack/