Saturday, June 4, 2011

Camera Critters #165

One afternoon, while sitting on my mother’s patio, watching the birds feed on the little hillside in front of me, I saw something I had never seen before.

It began with a pair of male and female Brown-headed Cowbirds, who were feeding on the seeds in the area.

Suddenly, another male cowbird swooped in and attacked the first male. I had seen birds fight before and it was generally an attack, retreat and maybe a couple of other attacks. But this one was different. It was like Friday Night Fights right in front of me! These two birds went at it, rolling in the dirt and grass of the hillside, not making a sound, but clasped onto each other with the feet, pecking and flapping their wings. It looked the world like a fight to the death.

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I watched these two fight, no more than 20 feet away from me. They rolled down the hillside to a short wall along a sidewalk, with both of them falling to the cement walkway below, still fighting and still going at each other after the fall.

At this point the pair were less than 10 feet from me.

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They continued to fight and roll across the sidewalk away from me until they finally split up and went their separate ways.

In all, the pair fought for a good five minutes or six minutes. I was blown away by what was happening. It was absolutely amazing.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

14 comments:

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

Great photo series. Can't say that we've ever seen a bird fight last that long either.

Darryl and Ruth : )

Misty DawnS said...

Wow that's really interesting, and you documented it wonderfully! Can't say that I've ever seen anything like that before.

Annabella said...

So fascinating and well done for capturing it so that we can all share it. I`ve never seen anything like that before. Great images!

??? said...

Wow, that's an intense fight. Probably neither one wanted to give up and they were well matched.

B i r g i t t a said...

Stunning! Great moment for the camera too and perfect for the meme :)

Hootin Anni said...

Startling pictures....great moment in nature you've captured. By the sounds of them splitting, no one was a winner...just dominance maybe.

Baby Herons and a Tern Chick is my Saturday post.

Do come over and say howdy if you can find time in your day!! Your visit will make me a happy camper!!! Have a great weekend.

Snap said...

wow ... who won? !!!!!!!

Kay L. Davies said...

Wow, that one guy at the end looks like he took quite a beating. "Went their separate ways" sounds like he survived, though.
I've never seen anything like that, either. Amazing.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Anonymous said...

Wow - amazing! Hopefully, they both survived?

One said...

I wonder why? Could it be over a female? I've photographed wasps fighting.

eileeninmd said...

Cool sighting and a great series of photos on the fight.

Unknown said...

Great series of photos of an unusual event!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Jidhu Jose said...

you clicked them smartly.
My Entry For Camera Critters

anemonen said...

Wow great photos. I wish they were mine.