Apparent Cooperative Hunting in Florida Scrub-Jays

Abstract I observed an apparent coordinated attack by a mated pair of Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) on a black racer (Coluber constrictor) in southcentral Florida. Depending upon their size, snakes can be either prey or predators of scrub-jays. This medium-sized snake may have been large enough that one bird could not safely subdue it. By coordinating their attack, the birds were able to kill and feed on the snake. This appears to be an example of pair hunting. The cooperative hunting technique, in which two mated birds perform coordinated movements, enables the pair to attack otherwise prohibitively large prey. Both members of the attack benefit by eating the prey. Cooperative hunting has only rarely been described in passerines.