Murder…

Yesterday morning while replenishing the bird feeder in my balcony I witnessed a very unusual behavior by a Bhraminy Starling pair. They pounced on a female House Sparrow and ruthlessly proceeded to kill it by pecking at its neck and abdomen. Once it was dead they flew away with it!!!

It took them about 2 mins to kill the sparrow. The following is the sequence as it happened….

It started with the pair swooping down, there was almost no panic amongst the sparrows
It started with the pair swooping down, there was almost no panic amongst the sparrows
The partner joined in...
The partner joined in...
Between the two of them...
Between the two of them...
They ensured the sparrow did not escape...
They ensured the sparrow did not escape...
One of them finally went to work on what looked like the neck and eyes...
One of them finally went to work on what looked like the neck and eyes...
And it was over...
And it was over...

 

 

    • Ranjana Bhoite

      Perfect planed murder.

  • Man..this is really strange. Amazing documentation. You must write it as a note to indiabirds.

    • tariquesani

      Thanks, yes I may write a note…. The killer part in writing notes is searching and quoting references

  • Good observation. Strange! You should publish this in a scientific journal.

    • tariquesani

      Thanks…