Rat attack! Fearless rodent takes on magpie before the bird’s sharp-beaked friend chases it off
- The bizarre confrontation was filmed at Marble Arch, in central London
- The two species may have been protecting their young babies from each other
- But birdwatchers say magpies like to engage in play with animals such as rats
- Video was filmed by magician Shaun Ames, 37, during his daily lockdown walk
This is the moment brown rat decided to chase a magpie in central London before it is seen off by another sharp-beaked bird.
Footage shows the rodent leaping through grass at Marble Arch, just outside Hyde Park, as it races to towards the much bigger bird.
But, when its rival is joined by another bird, the rat turns tail and flees for the safety of some nearby bushes.
The confrontation was filmed by magician and tour guide Shaun Ames, 37, as he took his daily walk during lockdown.
A magpie was chased by a rat at Marble Arch, outside Hyde Park, in central London. The rodent is pictured sitting on a wall as the bird approaches
The rat lunges towards at the magpie as the two battle on a grassy verge
The video begins with the rat scuttling across the grass towards the magpie.
The bird hops backwards before flapping its wings and flying out of the rodent’s path.
However, when a second magpie arrives the rat turns tail and heads for cover leaving the birds to dominate the grassy verge.
The animals may have challenged each other as they had young nearby. Rats and magpies are known to eat each other’s offspring.
Birdwatchers writing on the RSPB’s community blog suggest the interaction may, in fact, have been a bit of play between the two species.
Magician Shaun Ames, 37, spotted the magpie and the rat battling each other on his daily walk during the capital’s coronavirus lockdown
Marble Arch pictured in London on April 27 as the city remains on lockdown
‘It is simply a game’, writes one. ‘(Magpies) are known to engage in play and chasing the rat may simply be a bit of entertainment for them, especially if food is plentiful leaving them with lots of spare time that needs filling.’
The interaction was filmed at 7.12pm on May 2.