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Corvids in combat: with a weapon?

Article Excerpt
On 26 April 2004 at 0655 hrs MST I observed the following interaction at a bird feeding station in Flagstaff, Arizona at 2,000 m elevation. The feeding platform measured 1 x 1 m and was within 2.3 m of the window through which the observations were made. The roof overhang was 2.2 m. from the center of the platform and 2.7 m above it.

OBSERVATIONS

A solitary American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) was on the platform eating seeds. A pair of Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) flew into a mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) shrub that borders the platform. The platform was stocked daily with a variety of seeds commonly eaten by local birds. Steller's Jays regularly feed at the platform, eating and carrying sunflower seeds off to cache. Crows only occasionally visit the platform and are selective about which seeds they pick up in their bills. Thus, they feed deliberately and slowly, and spend considerable time on the platform.

One of the Steller's Jays flew to the edge of the platform and scolded loudly while facing the crow for about 10 sec. The crow paid no heed to the scolding jay as it continued feeding. The jay on the platform then made feinting movements toward the crow with its bill extended in the direction of the crow. The jay cautiously and haltingly approached the crow as if to attempt to pull its tail or peck it. The jay approached to within 7-10 cm of the crow and appeared to be in the throes of a "fight or flight" conflict. The crow then turned to face the...