I let my flock of 5 adult ducks out this morning as I do every day. When I got home around 4pm (before dark) I found my duck brownie dead cold and stiff with his head detached and laying there about 2 feet away, in a big messy pile of his small feathers. About 6 feet away I found a couple more of his feathers, but only larger ones. His broodmate, Daisy, lost a few feathers and had a bloody bill, and is freaked out, but otherwise seems okay. What predator does this??? It must have happened in full daylight, at least an hour or two before dusk. The head was torn off, feathers everywhere, but the body was otherwise intact... nothing else was missing and the rest of the body was not torn. Whatever it was, it attacked the other duck too. Daytime predators as far as I know are mostly dogs, cats, coyotes, and hawks... but none of those three fit the details... thanks for your help guys edit: I'm in eastern PA area
Sad for your loss. I would post the question on the predators and pests forum. And keep them in somewhere safe . The predator will be back.
Quite an odd case you have here first of all anything could have been out at that time. Right before sun down is a prime time for both nocturnal and durianl predators to attack. A fox, coyote, bobcat would have taken the bird away to eat so non of those unless they were scared off before they could get away with the bird. A raccon, possum, or sunk would have most lickely of eatan more or tore the guts out unless there again scared off. A weasel or mink would have torn the neck apart but would have left the bird intact not tearing the head off and most lickely would have killed more than one. My best guess is a hawk or owl, that will often only kill to eat the neck and head. They will usually pluck feathers from the bird then eat so this could explain the mess of feathers.
Your description sounds like this huge owl that was taking my chickens and guineas before I got a guardian dog.
The separation of the head act sounds like traits of foxes and racoons. If the duck is too big they try to just take what they can carry, so they take off the head and usually will try to just take that. I'm so sorry for your loss , i hope the case is solved soon.
My condolence on your loss. My guess is either a fox or a hawk - the lack of damage to the body makes me lean toward fox. Foxes where I live attack in broad daylight, too.
