Jonathan Kuah’s image above shows a Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) with a freshly caught Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) just brought back to its perch (above).
The other images by Derrick Cheong show the same goshawk dismembering the myna. Well, that’s how the goshawk deals with its prey.
Like many raptors, Crested Goshawk feeds on small mammals like Common Palm Civets (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites), squirrels and bats.
The goshawk also takes birds, lizards, frogs and large insects – see HERE.
The goshawk usually sits quietly on a concealed perch and launches its attack the moment it sights a prey. Usually after a short chase it catches it and brings it back to a perch to eat it.
Small prey is killed by the talons but larger ones will be pecked on the head and neck. In the case of this myna, the feathers were plucked off and discarded. The flesh was pecked off the long bones but smaller bones were swallowed. Intestines were usually discarded. Undigested remains were eventually discarded in the form of a pellet.
Derrick Cheong & Jonathan Kuah
Singapore
23rd February 2017
Reference
Thiollay, J. M., 1994. Family Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 2. New world vultures to guineafowl. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp. 52-205.
This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.
Lee Chiu San
That mynah is a very young bird, if you observe the proportions of the head and the beak. Well, inexperienced young birds are more likely to fall victim to predators.