Garden Wildlife UK

Am getting the odd one as well. Not a bird that has frequented the garden in the past.

I often see Jays visiting the garden but I've noticed one with a prominently hooked beak. It's obviously a deformity but seems perfectly formed. I wonder how much it affects/influences its diet?

Very good video Nick, the extended curve don't seem to affect its eating.

It is amazing how wildlife (and even domesticated animals) adapt to deformatives, lost limbs etc.

TrevLincs wrote: Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:53 pm It is amazing how wildlife (and even domesticated animals) adapt to deformatives, lost limbs etc.

Absolutely and better adapting than humans I suspect. The Jay might even find his beak is an advantage - I bet he's a dab hand at a carcass!

Here's Captain Hook in slo-mo. His hook is actually an advantage over the standard design, at least when it comes to feeding on peanuts!

Don't seem to be bothered by it. Great one Nick.

I'm almost certain that I've got another Jay with a hooked beak. This individual is smaller and the hook on its beak is less pronounced. At the end of the video there's a comparison shot with Captain Hook Senior on the left and (what I think is) Captain Hook Junior on the right. I'm wondering that if I'm right, could the deformity be hereditary?

There are two possibilities. Either it's two with the same deformity or the same bird having lost the tip off it's beak. Only seeing them together will answer the question.