What kind of bird teases cats?

Question

Whenever my cat sunbathes on the deck there is this bird that swoops down and pokes him in the back over and over again. My friend has had the same problem with his cat, who has actually lost pieces of ear to these birds.

From what I can see it has a gray/white belly and is darker gray all over with a really long tail.

Answer 1

Could be a mocking bird.  I had the same problem with my dog.  When they build a nest in a tree nearby, they will defend their chicks, especially against unwary cats, but my dog got dive bombed too and yes they can take bits of fur out, but I haven't heard of tearing of pieces of ear.  Not to say it can't happen, these are wild creatures, defending their young, so they are capable of just about anything.  Poor kitties!  Being tortured by BIRDS!  That must be embarrassing for them.  My parrot will entertain herself by throwing a bird kibble on the floor to watch the cat bat it around the house for  while.  One of my cats will actually eat bird kibble.  The other loves to play with her peanuts in the shell and bat it all over the house.  He loves it as a toy.

Answer 2

Here in California Blackbirds do it.

Answer 3

that is a magpie.

Answer 4

Sounds like a cat bird, no pun intended.

Answer 5

mockingbird!!  those little stupid birds will swoop at you and peck you in the head too.  

Answer 6

maybe some kind of bird of prey, like a hawk, falcon or eagle.

Answer 7

crane's like to pick at anything semi smaller than them. they swoop down quick and just get whatever they see. i remember my great grandmother had a pond with frogs and turtles and the stupid bird used to swoop down and pull them all of the water, take their legs off, etc. their a pain in the ya know.

Answer 8

is this the bird you saw http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/bird... its a mocking bird my cats get attack by them all the time so now my cats are indoor animals