Blackcap karate kicks rival greenfinch in the beak in brutal bird fight
A raging blackcap is pictured 'karate kicking' a rival greenfinch in the beak in a fierce aerial battle.
The angry birds were captured mid-combat as they fought over sunflower seeds left on a tree branch.
Blackcaps, which breed in southern Germany and Austria, are increasingly migrating towards Britain rather than their traditional wintering grounds of Spain.
Other action-packed shots show a pair of goldfinches coming to blows while two siskins are pictured squaring up to each other.
The astonishing images were captured by award-winning wildlife photographer Andrew Fusek Peters who hid seeds around his garden.
Andrew, 58, of Lydbury North, Shropshire, said: “It’s fight club, I'm there as the promoter with the bird seed.
“I put the sunflower seeds and hide them in the branch. Lots of them come in and sometimes fight.
“The blackcap has actually got its claw in the greenfinches face.
“You never see a blackcap in the garden, you never see them in flight and you don't see them fighting.
“They’re quite special. It’s the first time I’ve ever had one in the garden.
“I knew nothing about them but they would aggressively defend their food. It’s smaller than the greenfinch by a lot.
“All the birds are fighting over food. It’s basically saying I've got the food, I'm going to defend the bit where the food is.
“It’s whoever is the most aggressive. Not the biggest. Siskins will take on anything, the greenfinch is huge but it will be bullied off by a siskin.
“Goldfinches are known to do this. It’s proper aerial violence. They’re basically saying get off of my patch.”
Andrew snapped the series of aerial battles over the last week.
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