A dead starling hanging from an electrical wire by its claws

[aiantony]

We were leading a DFO trip to the raptor alley west of DIA, when we came upon a curious sight. We saw a blob hanging from a wire, and when we looked carefully with binoculars it was a bird hanging by its locked claws!

It seems to be a starling with its bright yellow pointed bill facing right. Is that clotted blood at the back of its head?

We've never seen such a thing, and wondered how it had died. 

It couldn't have been electrocuted, as it would have needed to touch another wire or the ground. 

If it had been predated upon by a raptor, say, it would have been taken away to be eaten on a perch. There was no other wire close by.

Has anyone seen anything like this and does anyone have any reasonable explanation for this. 

Google AI suggested avian ‘flu as a possibility. 

Ajit and Liza Antony

Central Park, Denver.

Sent from my Galaxy

[greg.le...@protonmail.com]

Some falcons, peregrines included, attack by hitting prey in the back of the head with balled up talons; a blunt force trauma death.  Birds' feet clasp when in a relaxed position, so a sudden death with feet still clasped afterwards makes sense.  

Despite the marvels of AI, it's quite often not logical.  I've read of no HPAI (avian influenza) symptoms that include bleeding from the skull, so I'm not sure why it would suggest that.  

Greg Levandoski

Longmont, CO

[Preston Sowell]

This could also be from a kid with a pellet gun. I witnessed this happen with a Starling when I was a boy.

Preston

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Preston Sowell
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