Brown rat takes on magpie in daylight battle before it is chased off by its sharp-beaked foe 

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Rat attack! Brown rat takes on magpie in daylight battle before it is chased off by its sharp-beaked foe

  • Horrifying chase was filmed in Marble Arch, outside Hyde Park, central London
  • Animals may have been protecting babies from each other, causing the fight
  • Video was filmed by magician Shaun Ames, 37, during his daily lockdown walk 

By Luke Andrews For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

This is the moment a fearless brown rat takes on a magpie in central London before it is chased off by another sharp-beaked bird.

Footage shows the rodent leaping through grass at Marble Arch, just outside Hyde Park, as it races to catch the magpie.

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 above sitting on a wall as the bird approaches

The rat is pictured above lunging at the magpie as the two battle on a grassy verge

The rat is pictured above lunging at the magpie as the two battle on a grassy verge

The video begins with the magpie flapping as the rat scuttles towards it before hopping backwards while the rodent remains in hot pursuit.

However, when a second magpie arrives the rat dashes 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 eachothers 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

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

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 grim interaction was filmed at 7.12pm on May 2.

It was posted on a social media group with the caption: ‘On my walk today I saw a rat fighting a magpie.’