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Eurasian
Sparrowhawk killing Magpie
Magpie fights for its life with a Sparrowhawk
Magpie fights for its life with a Sparrowhawk
On 22nd March 2012
I witnessed an epic struggle as a Sparrowhawk fought and eventually
killed a Magpie. Alterted to the presence of the Sparrowhawk by the
alarm calls of various corvids I saw two birds thrashing around in the
mud. I crept up close to them and, hidden by a dry-stone wall I
documented this epic struggle.
These two mud-wrestling birds slogged it out for over twently minutes, anabling me to field a call from work whislt it was going on. The Sparrowhawk actually started eating the hapless Magpie whilst it was still alive. The images on this page are given in chronological order.
These two mud-wrestling birds slogged it out for over twently minutes, anabling me to field a call from work whislt it was going on. The Sparrowhawk actually started eating the hapless Magpie whilst it was still alive. The images on this page are given in chronological order.
Tjeldstø, Øygarden 12 March 2012.
Several times
during the fight these birds lay completely still for a few minutes
whilst they attempted to regain their strength.
Equipment: Digital SLR and 400mm telephoto lens
The Magpie knew where to get hold of the Sparrowhawk, always going for the beak.
This feather plucking seemed to be an attemt to expose some flesh it could bit into
Greviously wounded the Magpie fights on
Exhausted the Sparrowhawk takes a short break
Finally with the Magpie dead the Sparrowhawk drags it off to eat it.
For less gory pictures of Sparrowhawk see this page
For Magpies still looking their best see this page.
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