A blue jay just killed a house finch

[question everything]

Early evening. Everyone - squirrels rabbits birds - are hoping for some food and all of a sudden a blue jay descended on a house finch and started mauling it. At least it took him away.

How common is it? From now on I will shoo the jays away. As it is I think that they intimidate the others the cardinals, black capped chickadees, sparrows..

[Walleye]

1. I was heartbroken last year when a Bluejay raided a hummingbird nest

They go for the eggs. Last week I saw one in the tree outside my window and put my hands out and clapped loud and he left. Lots of hummingbirds around since, though, at least three females and one male

[Rebl2]

2. Wow I

have never seen that before. I have seen them chase many a hawk away from our yard. Also the crows chase hawks away. When neither is around, the hawks take advantage and go after the other birds.

[msongs]

3. have seen a few vids of this behavior and it does not seem unusual sorta like seagulls and pelicans

eating pigeons in the park

[rsdsharp]

4. We have a house finch nest on top of the light fixture

on our deck. We also occasionally see a blue jay in the planters on the deck rail. I haven’t seen any violence yet, But I’ll keep an eye out.

[Timewas]

5. Have had

Crows and ravens get chicks

[Ferrets are Cool]

6. Made me go do some checking....found this....

https://www.pedaldrivenprogramming.com/2008/04/bluejays-are-carnivores/

The Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is actually a member of the Crow (Corvidae) family. All crows eat meat, some more than others. Although Blue Jays eat about 3 times as much plant matter as it does meat, a large part of their diet is made up of other animals such as mice, fish, bats and other small birds. All members of the crow family are know for their intelligence, thats why its so hard for Fluffy to kill them. You can read more about the Corvidae family on this fascinating website: http://science.jrank.org/pages/1886/Crows-Jays.html

[question everything]

7. Thank you. We do have crows visit but never seen them going after small birds

As a matter of fact during fall when the days are getting colder we catch mice in the basement. We do not poison them just find each in the reusable trap and toss them in the garden. The crows sweep and catch them. Often are there waiting for their breakfast...

Still this was very upsetting image.

[Rebl2]

9. Same here

Never seen jays or crows attack other birds. I have seen both chase off hawks. I watched jays chase a hawk yesterday and they are extremely loud when they do so and it alerts the other birds to scatter and get to a safe place. I have seen the squirrels hide as well when jays and crows chase off hawks.

[ShazzieB]

8. Wow, this is a new one on me.

I know blue jays are aggressive birds, and I'm familiar enough with the realities of "nature, red in tooth and claw" (or in this case, "beak and claw&quot , to not be terribly shocked. But when we're enjoying watching the pretty birdies, it's so easy to forget about that side of things.

Sorry you had to witness such a disturbing display, question. I hope you aren't subjected to anything like that again any time soon.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

10. I had no idea jays were related to crows.

It makes sense. The crows around here are always chasing the hawks and ospreys away. We haven't seen too many scrubjays lately either.

[Emile]

11. I know my cats are scared of them. They'll swoop down and get them running

across the lawn.