Red-winged Blackbird flying at and mobbing a perched Common Raven eating a dead rodent or mole

A Dining Common Raven and Some Bothersome Red-winged Blackbirds

Miles & Teresa TuffliBird Profiles, Sonoma County Birding

During a recent runaround in Bodega Bay, we enjoyed a front-row seat to the drama of two Red-winged Blackbirds mobbing a Common Raven.
 
We noticed this Common Raven consuming and parading around its meal – perhaps an American Shrew-Mole?

Common Raven perched eating a dead rodent or mole
Common Raven
Close up of a Common Raven perched eating a dead rodent or mole
I’m ready for my close-up

Suddenly, a lone Red-winged Blackbird male swooped down and proceeded to mob the raven.

Red-winged Blackbird flying at and mobbing a perched Common Raven eating a dead rodent or mole
Incoming Red-winged Blackbird

After dodging several swoops, the raven hopped down to continue dining on some logs near the ground.

Common Raven flying down to the ground to eat a dead rodent or mole

Common Raven perched near the ground eating a dead rodent or mole
Maybe I can enjoy my meal in peace here…
Gif of Red-winged Blackbird flying at and mobbing a perched Common Raven eating a dead rodent or mole
I guess not!!!

What was this Red-winged Blackbird protecting???
 
Likely, a recently fledged juvenile who sat exposed on an open handrail nearby, calling loudly and looking bewilderedly about.

Though the raven’s recently consumed meal was decidedly not a blackbird egg or nestling, two Red-winged males still deemed the raven a threat and mobbed it vehemently in unison.

Two Red-winged Blackbirds flying at and mobbing a perched Common Raven

Two Red-winged Blackbirds flying at and mobbing a perched Common Raven

Two Red-winged Blackbirds flying at and mobbing a perched Common Raven
Red-winged Blackbird males mobbing a Common Raven

This continued for a while before the blackbirds finally gave up and let the raven be.

Common Raven perched on a pole with feathers fluffed up
Satiated and ultimately unperturbed

After the cessation of aerial attacks, the raven settled down and wiped its bill, presumably cleaning off the shrew-mole remnants.


 
Check out this interesting National Audubon Society article on bill-wiping: Here’s Why Birds Rub Their Beaks on Stuff.

12 thoughts on “A Dining Common Raven and Some Bothersome Red-winged Blackbirds”

  1. Teresa & Miles: loved your post and photos of RW Blackbird mobbing of the CORA..and the follow up article about bill wiping!

    Reply

  3. Great Raven photos. Hoping to find time this early fall migration to come to visit and bird a few of your hot spots together.

    Reply

  4. What a great little drama you captured there. Did you actually see the recently fledged juvenile nearby, or were you guessing it had to be there?

    Reply

Please say hello!