Crossbill Crow | Wild About the British Isles (WABI)

rowanberry
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Posts: 3,177

Crossbill Crow Apr 22, 2023 12:54:26 GMT

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Post by rowanberry on Apr 22, 2023 12:54:26 GMT

Snowlynx and I saw this crow today in the playing fields.

It was a adult... it appears to be able to eat, (it was foraging around in the grass) and so we were wondering if this is the result of an accident, or has the poor bird been like this since birth?

Crossbill Crow Apr 23 by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr

Crossbill Crow Closeup by Wabi Gallery, on Flickr

Last Edit: Apr 22, 2023 12:54:56 GMT by rowanberry

Tringa
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Posts: 2,632

Crossbill Crow Apr 23, 2023 7:00:46 GMT

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Post by Tringa on Apr 23, 2023 7:00:46 GMT

Amazing. If you hadn't got the proof I don't think anyone would expect such a bird to survive, but clearly it has.

I found this on the RSPB site - www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/bird-deformities/ - but I don't think it applies to your bird, other than it might be a genetic deformity.

Dave

rowanberry
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Crossbill Crow Apr 23, 2023 7:51:00 GMT

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Post by rowanberry on Apr 23, 2023 7:51:00 GMT

Thanks for that link, Dave... I didn't think to send the photos to them, but I have done now.
The article mentions that this can occur if the tip of one mandible is broken, and I can see this has happened... I didn't realise that such a slight bit of damage might cause such a drastic result!

I'll post if the RSPB reply... it will be interesting to see what they say.