Aggressive bird - buzzing sound from wings?

condra · 09-10-2015 8:11pm #1

Hey

Wondering if anyone knows of any bird that ever makes a buzzing sound in flight.

A few days ago while walking my dog, I heard a commotion above of a bird squawking really loudly. I looked up and saw a yelping crow flying by towards some trees. It was quickly followed by another bird swooping, possibly "dive bombing", (which I thought looked like a large crow, though the sky cast them into silhouettes) .. Strangely, the aggressor was making a really loud buzzing, whirring sound as it swooped and turned.

It sounded like wind rasping through its wings, but was so loud that it scared my dog. Really a strange, but impressive sound to hear overhead.

I've never seen or heard anything like it in 35 years. Could it be a predator attacking a crow, or a male crow in mating form?

condra · 09-10-2015 8:14pm

This video is quite similar to what I witnessed, though the buzzing was deeper and longer. I wonder if a sparrowhawk would behave like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kJXiFPnlIE

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 09-10-2015 8:26pm

The sound description suits snipe but it wouldn't be behaving aggressively.

condra · 09-10-2015 9:06pm

Hmmm. I don't know much about birds but it was almost definitely chasing the crow.

junospider · 10-10-2015 8:23pm

A buzzard.

Tiercel Dave · 10-10-2015 9:02pm

There is a definite audible 'noise' from a Peregrine in a dive if you were lucky enough to witness that. Their feathers are quite 'stiff' and you can hear them vibrate when the wings are closed. A Sparrowhawk's feathers are softer and it's fairly silent in flight, by comparison. Plus the fact that it may have been in pursuit of a 'crow'! So I'll say young, female, Peregrine is worthy of consideration!

condra · 10-10-2015 9:46pm

Thanks for the replies. I had no idea any birds produced air friction sound in flight. It was really awe inspiring to witness, especially in the middle of Dublin

recedite · 10-10-2015 10:54pm

If its Dublin, that makes a peregrine more likely. Nice little video here.
On the other hand they don't really resemble a crow. Maybe it was a moulting crow, with feathers out of place or coming loose. Or maybe the other crow attacked it and plucked a few feathers.

condra · 11-10-2015 12:53am

Awesome. It did seem to swoop really fast. Witnessing something like that in nature is really exciting. I can see how people catch the bug.

Aggressive bird - buzzing sound from wings?

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