Peregrine Falcon vs Crow

Ultradog MN · Jun 25, 2016

I saw a little life and death struggle play out in the tree behind the house a few minutes ago.
A Peregrine Falcon got ahold of a crow.
Crow was bigger than the falcon but was making one heck of a racket.
I couldn't see the struggle very well - too many branches but within about 30 seconds 4 or 5 other crows showed up and started attacking the falcon. Just a flurry of wings and feathers and LOTS of squawking.
Falcon must have thought discretion was the better part of valor cause he blew that pop stand. Got a good view of him as he left. The crows all did kind of a victory roll, squawking and dancing and then left. One crow, must be the one that was attacked is still sitting in the tower behind the house. Just sitting there.
Peregrine was a tough, stocky little bird, like a boxer compared to the much more graceful crows.
Though I've always admired crows I was rooting for the falcon.
I hope he finds some breakfast elsewhere.

Dean · Jun 25, 2016

Interesting story, UD.

Several years ago while mowing with a rotary cutter, I saw a Crow swoop down and take a small rabbit that I had disturbed from his hiding spot. The crow couldn't quite lift the rabbit so he would fly a bit and stop before trying again. I was moving in the direction of his flight and when I got too close, he pecked the rabbit several times to disable it and flew into a tree until after I passed. He then returned to the rabbit for another couple of efforts to move his catch to a more protected area for lunch.

Dean

Mark - IN. · Jun 25, 2016

By me we have osprey because of the nearby lakes and rivers. They're as big as eagles but from as near as I can tell only eat fish. We used to have a chihuahua house dog that we inherited after a death of a friend. I hated that dog. Always pooed and peed in the house after letting it outside for a half hour and watching it walk around. One time let it outside and it went walking across the yard...and then there it was, a giant osprey perched right there on a fence post about 50' away. YES!!! YES!!! YES, that chihuahua is going to be toast!!! That osprey lifted off and swooped down about 6' across and got lift and kept going leaving that chihuahua walking around the yard to build up another poo or pee for in the house. Stupid osprey must only eat fish.

Mark

RBoots · Jun 25, 2016

I hate them crows. I used to hunt them quite frequently in my younger days. They're smart, but they fight dirty. When he was pecking that rabbit, he was probably pecking it's eyes out, they have been known to do that.

Ross

Ultradog MN · Jun 25, 2016

Part of the reason I admire them is they are so canny. Early/mid 60s the county would pay us I think it was $.10 for each right crow's foot we brought in.
I shot at a lot more of them than I ever got.
.22 shorts. Not easy. The .410 gave you better odds but shells were more than $.10 each so it was not a profit maker.
They are darned hard to hit. But boy if you did you'd immediately have a dozen or 20 of them cawing at you.
They belong to the genus corvidae. Smartest birds in the world.
I agree the one Dean saw was probably was pecking the bunny's eyes out. Dirty fighters. Like the 4 or 5 of them this morning ganging up on the falcon. But all's fair in love and war I guess.

Billy NY · Jun 25, 2016

Ive raised a few of them, Corvids are extremely smart and they are something else when you are a friend. The last one, you could call to him anywhere in earshot and he'd call you right back every time.

37chief · Jun 25, 2016

I don't have much use for crows my self. If I scare out a small rodent, or a rabbit before it can take cover the crows gang up on him. I usually help the animal to a safe place. Stan

sms · Jun 26, 2016

We had a couple pet crows when we were young also, the last one could say "hello" well enough to understand. When you walked out of the house he would fly down and land on your shoulder.

sms · Jun 26, 2016

One time I saw a P. Falcon catch a starling, it ate the whole thing then sat in a hemlock tree a few feet off the ground...I think it was too fat to fly.

Billy NY · Jun 26, 2016

The last one I had said hello too, he was also partly white in the feathers. Landing on you is supposed to be a form of affection. There is a family of crows on the other side of the old fenceline/hedgerow for years, and in '13 I found this guy, not fully feathered, rough looking but seemingly healthy and alert. Not sure what the deal was with the white feathers. He eventually passed from seizures, which became more frequent, really odd and it was as sad as losing the family dog. I've got some photos and video of him. Being on the ground he would not have lasted long here anyways, unless he found a roost like the pines with branches like steps from the ground up.

Peregrine Falcon vs Crow

Ultradog MN

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Dean

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Mark - IN.

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RBoots

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Ultradog MN

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Billy NY

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37chief

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sms

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sms

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Billy NY

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