Video Of Jackdaw Fighting Kestrel Over Nest Box

[Steve Kroenke]

Video Of Jackdaw Fighting Kestrel Over Nest Box

In Europe, there lives a crow like “perching bird” called the jackdaw. The jackdaw is a member of the crow family but nests in cavities.

The kestrel is a small falcon and lives in Europe, too. The kestrel will nest in cavities.

I watched this video on YouTube of a kestrel trying to move into a nest box that has been taken over by a jackdaw. It was quite battle and the two birds even fought fiercely inside the nest box. The kestrel may have a hooked beak, but the jackdaw’s long THICK bill looks more menacing and dangerous! Both combatants pecked and clawed each other in a savage fight!

In North America, we have kestrels and they compete with starlings for nest sites. Even though a kestrel could kill and eat a starling, starlings are able to evict kestrels at times from their cavities.

Here is the link to the video and the BATTLE ROYAL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzLADnLsNRs

Steve

[Davlyn]

My goodness !! That was intense . Great video ! By the way how many pair do you still have ? My last pair with four young fledged yesterday they were all four strong ! They made it through the heat the temps were record breaking highs for a few days it was 104 and 103 and 100 and then 99 but all four babies stayed put ! They would come stick half their bodies out the entrance , they brought them back last night to roost and tonight .

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey April,

I have only nine pairs of martins with young and one with eggs. I have three nests of small babies, two of which will probably not fledge until the first week in August if they survive.

We had a few days of triple digit temperatures but the martins did fine. My various venting systems seem to work OK. We have had a few good rain showers lately and this has helped to cool things off some.

This has been the BEST martin season we have ever had with our two colonies. We attracted around 500 pairs of martins and fledged hundreds of babies.

I am glad you had a good martin season and your martins survived the hot weather!

Steve

[Matt F.]

Amazing video Steve!
After watching that, I've come to the conclusion, that if someone sees a Jackdaw, do not make eye contact, and walk the other way immediately......

[lcline85]

Interesting to watch. I would think the jackdaw had a serious upperhand by being able to peck and use his feet, where rators only really use their feet. I was suprised in the end when the mate showed up and the jackdaw seemed to know he was beat and gave up!

[Gary W]

Hi Steve,

That was a very interesting video! I remember on one of your past posts, you mentioned that a type of European Kestrel was increasing on that continent, and reducing the starling population. Was that the same raptor species in the video? I had no idea that they had a crow species over there that nests in cavities!

Gary

[Steve Kroenke]

Hey Gary,

It is the sparrowhawk that some believe is increasing in population in parts of Europe and possibly impacting starling numbers. The sparrowhawk is an Accipiter and similar to our sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks. There are videos on YouTube of sparrowhawks catching and eating starlings. Just do a search of "sparrowhawk starling" and you can find some.

There is a short video listed on the same page as this video of a sparrowhawk that catches a jackdaw and gets a BIG SURPRISE! Jackdaws are tough birds!

Steve

[hardyfarm]

You ain't kidding! That jackdaw is a tough customer. Never heard of them before. Thanks!