May 14 2008
Little attacks Big
The last time I saw a crow it was being attacked by three grackles. In fact every time I see a crow lately, it’s under attack. What gives? Why are little birds attacking big ones?
Pittsburgh’s huge winter flock of crows dispersed by the end of March. Since then the remaining crows have been secretive. No raucous parties for them! They’re up to the serious business of nesting and they don’t want us to find them. For all intents and purposes, the crows have disappeared.
Meanwhile, the songbirds came home to nest. By now, grackles, starlings and robins have young to feed. So do the crows.
Crows prefer to eat meat if they can get it. I’ve seen a crow raid a pigeon nest and carry two eggs in its beak back to its own nest. They’ll also steal nestlings.
So even though the crows are keeping a low profile, the songbirds know that crows will eat their eggs and chicks if they get a chance. Long before the crow can find their nests, the songbirds gang up and loudly attack the crow. The noise attracts reinforcements. If the attack works the crow leaves the area.
At this time of year you will often see little birds attacking big ones. The birds they attack are threats to their nests:
Crows attack red-tailed hawks,
Grackles and blue jays attack crows,
Chickadees attack blue jays.
When they’re nesting, a bird’s best defense is a good offense.
A few afternoons ago, on my way home, I saw a crow fly over my car, followed by about a dozen or so other birds. I’ve never seen so many little birds following a big one before. I actually pulled off the road and got out of my car. The crow landed - it had a baby bird in its beak. I walked towards them, but the crow took off again, with the baby, before I could get close. The other birds were still after them. The thing that really surprised me, though, was that the little birds following were a collection of different types. I saw at least cardinals and robins, but it all happened so fast I couldn’t get too close of a look.
Wow! Sounds like the entire neighborhood freaked out when that crow stole a baby bird!
A similiar thing happened this morning, two crows were being chased by an assortment of little birds, at least 12 (blue jays, some type of yellow birds, and what appeared to be female cardinals) these birds were screaming and dive bombing these crows. They were actually working together to attack these crows; I’ve never seen anything quite like it. They were relentless in their attack on the crows, I actually felt sorry for the crows and usually I can’t stand them. Certainly was an exciting bird watching experience.
North Atlleboro, MA
Today while driving home through the Shenandoah Mountains, I saw two instances of a crow attacking turkey vultures. I always think of crows as large birds but when you see one go after a turkey vulture you realize how small and comparatively agile they are.