iano Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 Hi guys, I didn't get a photo, but when out checking the cattle this morning, I saw a desicated corpse of a crow. The leg bones, spine and skull were left. The skull had a little bit of feathers left, as did the legs. Ribs were gone, wings were gone. Some bloody feathers around also. I'd have thought a fox would have taken the full corpse (there is a fox in that field), any ideas what could have killed it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dob Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 A fox would of crunched the bones I would say, perhaps it's a buzzard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 Other crows, foxes and badgers more than likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugs Posted October 2, 2016 Report Share Posted October 2, 2016 (edited) Feathers plucked or bitten\snipped off? If plucked and in right sort of habitat, Goshawk perhaps...(although wings gone is strange if BoP) Edited October 2, 2016 by Pugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big bad lindz Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 send an email to chris prckham, he is an expert in predators I cant say that I have seen crows eat there own when left out in the field what about a cat ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iano Posted October 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Thanks guys - there are some birds of prey in the area, pretty sure we have a goshawk pair near us. Cat might also be an option but it was quite a bit away from the farm / other houses. Was just surprised that the spine was intact, usually when I see the remains of a bird (pigeon usually), pretty much everything is gone bar some feathers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBeaky Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Cat might also be an option but it was quite a bit away from the farm / other houses. A feral or even semi-feral tom will roam over a 5-7 mile radius - is it further than this from anywhere a cat might be living? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig83 Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 take a picture and post it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 Lol Checking the cattle this morning. .... I imedeatly thought it was the corpse of a cow lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adge Cutler Posted October 3, 2016 Report Share Posted October 3, 2016 (edited) Of the raptors only a bird the size of golden eagle would have the strength to take off the crows wings, and most BOP wouldn't bother anyway. Nothing in the air is going to take down a Crow other than a Gos and they would normally carry prey smaller than themselves off to a tree. If a BOP did take a crow down it would normally strip the breasts and the thighs. I would think it was probably a fox possibly two perhaps squabbling over the carcass. I've seen two 3/4 adult foxes doing similar with a pheasant. When you say desiccated I assume you mean dried up ? so could it have just been a natural death and eaten by maggots. ? Could even have be a stoat and then the carcass cleaned up by a buzzard or the like Edited October 3, 2016 by Adge Cutler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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