I have watched a pair of crows build a nest last year and this year. I found a dead crow chick in my garden and assumed the nest had been visited by a predator but a few days later, I saw one of the crows chase a pigeon from my garden fence and kill it in next door's garden and the pair fed on it. Surely the parents hadn't killed the chick?
Are you certain it was a dead crow chick, and not a chick from another species. The reason why I ask is crows, a carrion bird which will predate and eat chicks and small birds as well as clean up carcasses, will predate nests and pick up weak or dead chicks as food for their broods.
All birds will be very protective to their nests and young. Any bird, or animal, getting anywhere near, they will fight off as aggressively as necessary, to keep the brood safe.
Not just birds, animals will as well, just as we would do all we can to protect our families.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
weird
Hi there, salman here. Lets connect and discuss stuff about wildlife and other things