How common is it for bird chicks (babies) to kill each other?

Question

I just came across some sad info about eagle chicks - the stronger chicks will kill the weaker ones in order to enhance their own odds of survival. How common is this in other bird species? This is tough news to take for a bird lover like me. :(

Ben Franklin was right - the turkey should have been our national bird. The turkey is a truly American bird (native to America), and it's more respectable. In his own words, he said:

"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him. With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country.... I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

--Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to his daughter

Answer 1

All raptors ,such as Owls Hawks  and Eagles will kill and eat their siblings in times of food shortage,ie. not enough prey food.

And those that say not are living in cuckoo land.

I have witnessed this on many occasion in the wild, when carrying out observations on various species.

Answer 2

Certain species do, though many species don't.

Answer 3

i thinkits true. anyway i think turkeys wouldnt make a good bird because they are notably STUPID as stupid as chickens

im a bird lover too but, please-be realistic. a weak chick wouldnt survive likely and stronger chicks will survive and promote strongr genes into the population. its to keep the enire population more heathy

anyway, its justa natural. it si bad but that is just what happens. just today i had a newborn chick killed by older ones(i suspect) and thats just a fact of life

Answer 4

This happens in a lot of bird species--I've never heard of the older siblings actually killing the younger ones, generally the young birds die because they don't get enough food. This isn't the older sibling's fault, though, it's because the parents can't bring enough food in to keep them all fed; on a really good year they actually can raise a whole clutch, but normally there just isn't enough to eat. Whether the older sibling kills the younger outright or not, in the end they're all just trying to survive.

And I agree with the above statement. A little vain and silly indeed... as far as birds go, the turkey is an idiot. It isn't courageous, it's foolhardy. Who wants that for the national bird?

Answer 5

they kill each other because they want to be a bully or the hate each other

Answer 6

I don't think its too common..

Answer 7

it happens... shame though :(

Answer 8

THe stronger chicks usually don't necessarily "kill" the weaker ones.  What actually happens is that there isn't enough food for all the chicks--usually clutches of 2 or 3--in the ecosystem to support the parents and all of the chicks.  So the younger ones, the ones that are weaker will usually starve because the older ones push the younger ones aside when the parents have the food.

I learned this at age 7--didn't phase me.  Survival of the fittest, and it's the way that nature created these birds.  

This is common in several other bird species--it isn't just bald eagles.  It's also other birds of prey such as Harris's Hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Golden Eagles, Harpy Eagles, Snail kites, great-horned owls--pretty much any and all bird of prey.  Cuckoos are another addition to this family.  Albatross, and many other species of birds should be put in this category.  Rest assured, it isn't just the bald eagle eyasses that do this.  

As for the turkey--would you feel comfortable eating the Nation's symbol during Thanksgiving?

Also, the fact that the bald eagle is the national symbol is something to rejoice at!  The status that the eagle holds in America is part of the reason why people are so dedicated to conserving it.  From illegal poaching to the threat of DDT, America's eagle has stood strong.

Best,

Phoenix

EDIT:;; The bald eagle is also a native and migratory bird.  The turkey is too, that is true.  But no one can claim the argument that the turkey is a true bird of America, when the bald eagle is too.