Crows Vs. Squirrels

stage_fright

I’m hoping to get some backing in a ‘discussion’ my wife and I have been having for some time now…

Whilst walking across a park recently we saw a crow and a squirrel both eyeing up the same item of food. The question is – who would win in a fight?

My wife backs the crow for its pointy beak and the use of its aerial ability to add another dimension to its combat repertoire, though my money is on the squirrel for its tenacity (evil little bu**ers in my experience), claws and biting ability (it ducks under the beak, latches onto the neck, and bobs your uncle..)

We have been debating this at some length now – so any insights (preferably agreeing with me) would be appreciated!

bagpusscp

I vote for the hazelnut machine . Reason .My late GSD called Audax made it his lifes work trying to despatch said beasts :oops: . On one occasion during a battle with a nut muncher my Gsd let out a loud yelp,he had received a bite to the side of has mouth {no prises for guessing where the muncher was :shock: . Result one cross Gsd= RIS nut muncher

chrisjsmith

Squirrels are sheer evil. They will win.

Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRBVh8ZPUyg

bagpusscp

bagpusscp wrote:

I vote for the hazelnut machine . Reason .My late GSD called Audax made it his lifes work trying to despatch said beasts :oops: . On one occasion during a a battle with a nut muncher my Gsd let out a loud yelp,he had received a bite to the side of has mouth {no prizes for guessing where the muncher was :shock: . Result one cross Gsd= RIS nut muncher

Hit the wrong button!!!

on the road

I reckon crow. They don't need to fight, they just swoop down with their wings outstretched, it makes them look massive.

secretsqirrel

I say Crow, failing that bring on the Ravens!!

having said that magpies give them a run for their money!!

CHRISNOIR

I wouldn't write the squirrel off so quickly - those little grey b*stards (and I presume we're talking about the grey here) have been laying waste to our native reds for quite some time. If that squirrel got hold of the aforementioned crow there'd be carnage.

Don't be fooled by the big wide eyes and cute bushy tails, they could do a crow no problem - and would then possibly smash up your favourite boozer in a nut-crazed orgy of violence.

wildmoustache

i'm not sure about that one in all honesty. very close call and i can see why it has generated such strong feelings in your household. if pushed, i'd fancy the crow, but suspect the squirrel could sustain more damage and still be operational. Summary:

*Crow has more powerful single weapon in beak
*Squirrel has teeth and claws so has greater variety of attack
*Crow more vulnerable due to wings (weak spot)

Basically, if the crow went for the squirrel's eyes and got lucky, it would be lights out for the hazelman. But if the crow got bogged down in "hand to hand" combat, then it would probably suffer greviously.

Did anyone see the news story the other day about the swan that knocked the censored out of a dalmation?

pneumatic

Ok, so Inkwing has to start it, either by diving in on Nut'em or by landing next to an unguarded stash of winter nibbles. Nut'em wouldn't otherwise bother to attack a bird, however ugly it was.

Round one: Inky takes a peck at Nutty, wings out, sqwawk on full blast. Nutty turns side on to protect eyes and takes a hit on the haunch. N then twists around and sinks teeth into the leading edge of the sinister flapper's exposed wing. Both creatures now grounded, neither can run away.

Round two: Nutto goes back for more but Corbie gets him on the back of the neck, picking him up off the ground. Nuts goes off on one, twisting this way and that, bending the Crow's neck back, releasing the grip and arcing over the bird's head. Both creatures are now lying on their backs, a bit winded but full of adrenalin.

Round three: with an evil ripping rasp of a sqwawk, Inkwing goes big, wings out (damaged one trailing) and looms over the suddenly terrified bushy one, who limps for it to the nearest tree trunk, in two hops the dark invader has him skewered to the bark, but only by the tail, allowing him to turn, hissing back upon the bird and sink teeth into its neck.

The bell for the end of round three is ignored, both creatures tumble furiously around under the tree, each locked on the other, rolling this way and that, scattering leaves and feathers. For ten long minutes they wrestle thus, to the point of exhaustion and then the struggle subsides. If either releases their grip, death will follow. So neither does and death follows. Simultaneously. Draw. No penalties.

As Shackleton said "I have always marvelled at the fineness of the line between success and failure."

Meanwhile, sparrows have eaten all the contested nibbles and a dog has shat nearby.

Does that help at all, Fright?

LazyBoycp

One morning during the summer, while waiting for the Manchester Uni music department to open, I saw a bird (can't remember if it was a magpie or crow) chasing a squirrel up and down a tree. Don't know if the bird had a nest that the squirrel was after, but it kept swooping on it and pecking it. The squirrel didn't even get close to the bird, and eventually ran down the tree and away. 'Twas quite entertaining.

wildmoustache

LazyBoycp wrote:

One morning during the summer, while waiting for the Manchester Uni music department to open, I saw a bird (can't remember if it was a magpie or crow) chasing a squirrel up and down a tree. Don't know if the bird had a nest that the squirrel was after, but it kept swooping on it and pecking it. The squirrel didn't even get close to the bird, and eventually ran down the tree and away. 'Twas quite entertaining.

that does sound good. any pics?

inter-species combat has a bad rep thanks to unfair contests in days of old, but between consenting species there is no finer entertainment.

LazyBoycp

wildmoustache wrote:

LazyBoycp wrote:

One morning during the summer, while waiting for the Manchester Uni music department to open, I saw a bird (can't remember if it was a magpie or crow) chasing a squirrel up and down a tree. Don't know if the bird had a nest that the squirrel was after, but it kept swooping on it and pecking it. The squirrel didn't even get close to the bird, and eventually ran down the tree and away. 'Twas quite entertaining.

that does sound good. any pics?

inter-species combat has a bad rep thanks to unfair contests in days of old, but between consenting species there is no finer entertainment.

Afraid not. I was too engrossed in what they were doing to think of taking photos until it was over.

wildmoustache

LazyBoycp wrote:

wildmoustache wrote:

LazyBoycp wrote:

One morning during the summer, while waiting for the Manchester Uni music department to open, I saw a bird (can't remember if it was a magpie or crow) chasing a squirrel up and down a tree. Don't know if the bird had a nest that the squirrel was after, but it kept swooping on it and pecking it. The squirrel didn't even get close to the bird, and eventually ran down the tree and away. 'Twas quite entertaining.

that does sound good. any pics?

inter-species combat has a bad rep thanks to unfair contests in days of old, but between consenting species there is no finer entertainment.

Afraid not. I was too engrossed in what they were doing to think of taking photos until it was over.

maybe next time. in any case your dispatch from the front line is the best evidence we have for how a full blown contest would pan out ... the crow has to start favourite IMHO

onehipwonder

They must make the squirrels particularly vicious in Twickenham as the one that frequents my garden (and drives the dog mad) sees off 3 or 4 of the green parakeets that dare to hog the nut feeder.

chrisjsmith

onehipwonder wrote:

They must make the squirrels particularly vicious in Twickenham as the one that frequents my garden (and drives the dog mad) sees off 3 or 4 of the green parakeets that dare to hog the nut feeder.

That's because they're well fed modern professional squirrels around there. Everything comes from Marks or Waitrose. They don't want to be socialising with the local parakeets from the Ivybridge estate.

nwallace

See you forget an important bit of info.

Is it a Grey Squirrel or a Red Squirrel

REd would probably loose but I reckon Greys are vicious enough to have a chance despite the crows ability to get out the way using elevation.

feel

I think the crow or even a rook - besides i like them cos they see off the horrible heron that tries to raid my pond. AND squirrels are nasty little toerags that raid the birdfeeders.

bagpusscp

Hey Feel , is your sign off from the film Blade Runner?

bagpusscp

Anyway talking of airborne I have seen a grey nut muncher jump a good 5 feet off the deck whilst escaping my GSD . So my money is still on the grey.

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

It has to be the nut eater surely. All those who are voting crow are walking around with their heads in the clouds.

Salsiccia

The crow is big bird, but in bad shape. With squirrels it's a full-time job.

That being said, it didn't stop my very own grey monster (TInkerbell the Cat) bringing a recently-deceased example in through the cat-flap for our entertainment. My wife, who is a bit of a squirrel fan, doesn't know this as I disposed of the evidence quick-sharp.

feel

bagpusscp wrote:

Hey Feel , is your sign off from the film Blade Runner?

Oh no spotted "time to die"
certainly is bagpuss - one of my all time favourite films

bagpusscp

Cant help myself with this one ; what's got a hazel nut in every bite; squirrel $hit. :shock:

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe

bagpusscp wrote:

Cant help myself with this one ; what's got a hazel nut in every bite; squirrel $hit. :shock:

And the other favourite

How do squirells keep their nuts dry ?

They swim on their back
8)

stage_fright

Thanks for the comments and potential combat scenarios, though as I type this the Crow option is nosing (beaking?) ahead in the pole....doh!

To answer a question raised - the rodent in question was indeed a grey one.

Interestingly - a straw pole in my office favours Crows, while in my wife's company the strength of feeling is definetly behind the Squirrels.

Discussion is now drifting towards other potentially evenly matched inter-species combat pairings...

ContrelaMontre

Inter species combat pairing?

Saint Bernard vs Badger?

Could get messy!

bagpusscp

I hope the crow is not excepting anonymous funds here . I would not what any Harman to come to him .

Salsiccia

Stage Fright wrote:

Thanks for the comments and potential combat scenarios, though as I type this the Crow option is nosing (beaking?) ahead in the pole....doh!

To answer a question raised - the rodent in question was indeed a grey one.

Interestingly - a straw pole in my office favours Crows, while in my wife's company the strength of feeling is definetly behind the Squirrels.

Discussion is now drifting towards other potentially evenly matched inter-species combat pairings...

These sort of discussions remind me of the fake BBC page that had the story about midgets fighting a lion clicky

mmitchell88

According to Any Question Answered (a _probably_ exorbitantly priced mobile answer service which answers literally any question you put to it), they think crows would win.

"AQA: A crow would easily win in a fight against a squirrel. The squirrel would have the disadvantage as the crow's beak would prove too powerful overall."

See - it's simple really. Sometimes over-analysing these issues obscures what is in essence an obvious truth.

bagpusscp

NOW LOOK ;Here in nutmeg alley : Mr squirrel is starting to see RED and he is going to have YOUR NUTS if you DON'T vote for him . The tufty club know where ALL live you Know :twisted: :twisted:

chrisjsmith

Someone needs to try this and see