This morning I found all the feathers and the beak - and nothing else - of a robin, in a walled corner at the back of my house. Does anyone know what is likely to have done this? I have never known a cat to strip all the feathers and I think any owl would swallow it whole, or am I wrong?

Possible local candidates in order of abundance are:
cat
rat
tawny owl
kestrel
sparrowhawk
weasel
merlin

I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow!!!

I know that rhyme, it ends so:

"All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin."

But it was just as likely to be a sparrohawk.

This post was last modified: 09-02-2010 06:20 PM by wild canon.

.......Bet the puddy datt did it!!!!!!!!!!


Joey

Well, I shall assume sparrowhawk unless anyone else comes up with a better answer. Do they strip all the feathers? We have had one in the garden a couple of times so it does seem likely.