Why don't birds fly away to escape from cats?

Question

I saw our garden blackbird being cornered by a local stray cat. It was really noisy outside, the bird was chirping madly at the cat and so were other birds - both the cat and bird were facing each other at relatively close distance at ground level. The blackbird could have easily flown away, they just stood there staring at each other - if I hadn't frightened off the cat, I don't know what would have happened....what was going on?

Answer 1

Well they dont wont to get eaten.I bet they know that is there enemy.It is like all animals. They can sense danger.

Answer 2

The blackbird may have been protecting something.  For example, if the bird has chicks, and the cat is always hanging around, then the bird may have decided that a 'showdown' would better ensure the safety of her offspring.

Answer 3

Are you sure this was not a baby bird that could not fly yet..birds do leave the nest before they can fly and it being breeding season..there are lots of babies around.

Answer 4

What was going on is that the cat, not being able to surprise the blackbird had to make a decision.  Use the energy necessary to take down an aggressive adversary who showed he was perfectly willing to fight him, or try and find something less aggressive and easier to eat.

Although I don't know much about blackbirds, this doesn't shock me.  muchof the hunting instinct in cats is elicited by fast movement (why many housecats love to chase lazer pointer lights or flying anything).  By staying on the ground, the blackbird avoided triggering this hunting instinct of the cat, an instinct that the cat often cannot control.  

The blackbird, may also be more vulnerable at takeoff and decided to stay on the ground until it could make a safe escape.

Unfortunately, I'm not an expert on blackbird behavior or aerodynamics, so many of these ideas are conjecture on what i know about cat behavior and generalized bird behavior.

Answer 5

probably the same reason why wouldnt you run away if you come face to face with a big cat

Answer 6

Most likely the bird was guarding something.  Perhaps a nest, young, or something of equal value.

Answer 7

The bird was probably acting as a decoy to distract the cat from a young bird learning to fly. I have seen Blue Jays fly down to distract a cat while a baby got away and then when my cat thought she had the Jay cornered it took off.EDIT some COWARDLY  troll with NO knowledge is giving thumbs down. Post a comment wh**p.