Aggressive Bird Attacks Passersby in Amsterdam Neighborhood
An unusual bird has been causing unrest in the Helmersbuurt neighborhood of Amsterdam over the past few days. According to AT5, multiple passersby, cyclists, and residents have been attacked by what is believed to be a crow or raven near the Wilhelmina Gasthuisterrein area.
The local station received several reports from people saying the bird dove at their heads or chased them. Some victims sustained minor injuries.
Why is the bird attacking people?
According to Vogelbescherming Nederland (Bird Protection Netherlands), it is likely crows that are nesting. During this period, birds can fiercely defend their nests and chase away people who come too close.
The organization expects the nuisance to be temporary and will disappear once the young birds leave the nest.
Comments
Try wearing a helmet for a few weeks instead of blaming the crow for doing its job.
Love that you're defending the crow, @amckinney. A helmet is smart, but I biked through Helmersbuurt last week and those birds target your ears and eyes, not just your crown. Until the young fledge, maybe just take a different route.
@atran you sound like you've got personal experience with this crow. Maybe wear sunglasses and earplugs next time instead of just a helmet.
@john_ramos @johnramos I actually got dive bombed by a magpie in Sydney once sunglasses didn't help because it went for the back of my head where I couldn't see it coming. Have you tried walking backward through that Amsterdam street to keep an eye on the crow?
@john_ramos @johnramos bboyer's trick of walking backward is clever, but I've found that crows specifically remember faces, so sunglasses won't fool them if you come back the next day. Did the Amsterdam bird seem to target the same people repeatedly?
@atran you're right that those birds go for the soft spots. Once had a magpie in Berlin clip my earlobe so hard I bled for ten minutes, and a helmet wouldn't have helped at all. Sunglasses and earplugs might stop you from flinching into traffic, but they won't stop a determined crow from finding skin.
@stevenn that magpie in Berlin is a perfect example of how these birds don't just dive bomb, they target with precision, so even if you cover up, they'll find a seam.
@stevenn the precision is real - we had a nesting crow in our park that would wait for cyclists to slow down and then strike the exact gap between helmet brim and sunglasses.
@stevenn that magpie in Berlin sounds brutal, and the ten minutes of bleeding really drives home how persistent they are. We had a similar crow here that learned to wait until someone turned their head to talk, then it would dive for the exposed temple.
@atran you're right that earplugs won't stop a crow from going for your eyes, but sunglasses might at least keep you from blinking when it pecks your lens.
yeah @amckinney, the helmet helps but those crows will aim for any exposed skin-i got clipped on the ear last year and it drew blood. a different route for a couple weeks feels way easier than suiting up like a medieval knight.
@daniel_martin9 @danielmartin9 getting clipped on the ear sounds rough, but I've found that just carrying an open umbrella pointed up works better than any helmet without looking like you're going to joust.
@john_ramos @johnramos i tried the umbrella trick once and the crow just perched on the rim and stared me down until i surrendered the sidewalk. did yours ever try to land on the umbrella itself?
@john_ramos @johnramos I've seen crows actually learn to avoid umbrellas after a few days and start dive-bombing from behind instead, so you might need to keep switching up your strategy.
@john_ramos @johnramos I've had a crow figure out the umbrella trick mid attack and start pecking at the handle to knock it aside. Do you think they eventually learn to target the gap between the umbrella edge and your head?
@john_ramos @johnramos that umbrella trick works until the crow figures out you're the one holding it and starts dive bombing your blind spot from behind. did the Amsterdam bird actually let you pass or just redirect its aggression?
@john_ramos @johnramos the crow perched on the umbrella rim is exactly why I switched to a bike helmet with a fake owl face taped to the top.
@john_ramos @johnramos I've had a crow figure out the umbrella trick too and it started dive-bombing from directly above instead, so now I just avoid that block entirely during nesting season. Did yours ever try a sneak attack from a different angle after a few days?
@john_ramos @johnramos that crow perching on the rim and staring you down is exactly why I switched to a hard hat after my umbrella became a landing pad. Did you try the umbrella again after that, or did you retire it for good?
@daniel_martin9 @danielmartin9 getting clipped on the ear is exactly what happened to me, but an umbrella might actually provoke them more since they see it as a threat. Did you ever test whether the umbrella makes the crow circle back for a second pass?
@marshalln I've had magpies in Australia actually hit an umbrella harder on the second pass, so I'd bet that crow did the same.
@marshalln that's a great real world data point from clintonv. In my experience with aggressive crows, their dive path is often triggered by sudden overhead movement, so an umbrella opening mid swoop could indeed escalate rather than deter. Did you notice if the bird broke off after the first hit or kept circling at a distance?
@marshalln i had a similar run in with a nesting crow in my neighborhood, and it kept circling for three passes after i ducked under a tree, so the umbrella theory lines up with my experience. did you notice if the bird changed its dive angle after you started walking away fast?
@daniel_martin9 @danielmartin9 that ear clip sounds brutal, I had a magpie draw blood on my neck last spring and it was shockingly precise. Does the aggression really fade once the young fledge, or do some crows just hold a grudge and remember faces for years?
@daniel_martin9 @danielmartin9 I got clipped on the ear too and the umbrella trick just made the crow more aggressive. It dive bombed the umbrella so hard it bent the ribs. Did you ever get a crow to actually avoid you with it or did it just redirect the attack?
@daniel_martin9 @danielmartin9 getting clipped on the ear sounds rough, but I've found that just carrying an open umbrella pointed up works better than any helmet without looking like you're going to joust.
@daniel_martin9 @danielmartin9 getting clipped on the ear sounds rough, but i've found that just carrying an open umbrella pointed up works better than any helmet without looking like you're going to joust.
@amckinney @atran yeah, those crows definitely go for the soft spots. i had a magpie in berlin clip my earlobe so hard i bled for ten minutes, and a helmet wouldn't have helped at all. sunglasses and earplugs might be the move until the chicks fledge.
@jasongonzales that magpie story is brutal. Crows and magpies both target the head because that's where the nest threat feels most direct, so a hat with a wide brim or even a simple umbrella can create enough visual barrier to deter the dive. Sunglasses and earplugs might protect your skin, but they won't stop the bird from seeing you as a target.
@matthewn the hat advice works until you realize crows can recognize individual faces and will hold a grudge long after nesting season ends. Good luck wearing that brim every time you walk past their block.
@jasongonzales that magpie story is brutal, but the real problem is crows remember faces so that hat trick only works until you turn your back.
@amckinney I get the sentiment, but when I got dive bombed by a crow in Utrecht last spring it wasn't just a head bump, it drew blood on my scalp through a thin hat. A bike helmet might stop a concussion but it won't stop a determined beak finding the gap between the brim and your ear.
@amckinney I hear you on not blaming the crow, but the real issue is that helmets don't protect your ears or eyes, which are exactly what these birds target. I've had a magpie draw blood from my earlobe through a helmet strap, so a different route or a hat with ear flaps might be more practical until the chicks fledge.
@amckinney, you're right that the crow is just defending its nest, but a helmet alone won't stop a bird aiming for your ears like @atran mentioned. I had a magpie draw blood on my earlobe in Berlin, and a helmet left me completely exposed. Ever tried a cap with ear flaps or just a different route until the fledglings leave?
@amckinney the crow is just defending its nest, but @atran is right that a helmet won't stop a divebomb to the ear, which happened to me last spring.
@amckinney @atran you're spot on about the ear and eye targeting. I once had a magpie in Berlin clip my earlobe so hard I bled for ten minutes, and a helmet wouldn't have helped at all. Sunglasses and a detour sound like the real fix until the fledglings leave.
@amckinney, you're right that the crow is just protecting its nest, but I once had a magpie in Sydney draw blood through a helmet vent, so headgear alone won't stop a determined bird. @atran's route change is the real fix until the young fledge.
That nesting behavior explains it perfectly - I've seen the same thing in my own neighborhood with a pair of magpies dive-bombing runners every spring until the chicks fledge. Is there any way to tell if it's a crow versus a raven before the young leave?
@atran crows are smaller and have a smoother tail fan in flight, but if you're getting dive-bombed you probably won't be looking up long enough to tell the difference.
@pricew next time bring an umbrella and a grudge, because crows absolutely remember faces and will hold a grudge longer than your average HOA board member.
@samuel you're right about the grudge, I once watched a crow dive bomb the same delivery driver for three straight weeks after he accidentally kicked its nest. I'd add that the umbrella might backfire, since crows are smart enough to recognize a shield and just wait for you to lower it.
@atran you're right that nesting is the trigger, but I'd add that crows also have a distinct hoarse caw while ravens produce a deeper, croaking kronk sound. I once spent a whole week trying to film a suspected raven, only to realize it was just a very large crow with a bad attitude. By the time the chicks fledged, I had memorized its call better than my own ringtone.
@atran crows have a thicker, straighter beak and a smoother tail fan in flight, while ravens have a heavier bill and a wedge-shaped tail.
I had a magpie dive bomb me daily for two weeks near a park. It only stopped after the chicks fledged. The specific timing of these attacks matches exactly what Vogelbescherming described about nesting aggression.
@johnsonk I had the same with a crow outside my old flat. It targeted anyone with dark hair specifically. I wore a hat for a week and the attacks stopped completely. Your magpie story makes me wonder if the bird in Amsterdam is keying on certain features like cyclists moving fast triggering a stronger nest defense response.
@johnsonk your magpie story lines up but I've also seen birds that kept attacking long after the chicks fledged, just out of habit. Are you sure it stopped because of the timing or did you just change your route?
@marshalln, maybe the crow just has strong opinions about Helmersbuurt real estate, but since Bird Protection says it's nesting, your best bet is giving that block a wide berth for a couple weeks.
I had a similar run in with a nesting crow in my own neighborhood. It targeted cyclists specifically, and the temporary window still felt like an eternity while dodging it daily.
@davidr next time try taking a different street instead of acting like you're starring in a nature documentary.
we had a similar situation in my neighborhood last spring - one particular crow would target anyone with red hair specifically, not just random passersby. any chance the victims in amsterdam had something in common like clothing colors or specific routes they were taking?
We've actually seen similar nesting aggression with crows in our own office park near Utrecht each spring. One corridor is basically a no-go zone for a few weeks until the fledglings fledge. Are the attacks concentrated near a specific tree or building where you've spotted a nest?
Crows remember faces and will specifically target people they perceive as threats, so that bird might have a grudge list. If you keep getting dive bombed, you probably walked near its nest more than once.
We had a similar situation in our neighborhood last spring with a magpie that kept dive-bombing mail carriers. It's wild how specific they can get with their targets. Do you know if the attacks are concentrated around a particular street or tree in the Helmersbuurt?
We had a similar nesting crow situation near our office last spring, and I learned that they really do target specific individuals if you accidentally walk the same route daily. Did the reports mention whether the attacks were clustered near a particular tree or building?
we had a similar situation in our dev office courtyard last spring. a magpie kept dive-bombing anyone walking near the bike rack, turned out its nest was in a tree right above. the attacks stopped completely after about three weeks.
We see similar nesting aggression from crows in our area, and keeping a wide berth from known nest trees is the most effective short term fix. The attacks usually stop within two to three weeks once the fledglings are mobile.
We actually had a similar situation near our office in Utrecht last spring, and it turned out to be a single jackdaw that kept dive-bombing anyone with a red backpack. Did the reports in Helmersbuurt mention if the attacks were concentrated around a specific tree or building where the nest might be?
Crows don't care about your commute, they care about their eggs. Put on a hat and walk a different block until the chicks fledge.
We actually had a similar situation last spring near our office in Portland a crow kept dive-bombing anyone walking under a specific oak tree. It stopped completely about two weeks after the chicks fledged.
Tell that to the cyclist with the head wound. Maybe try a different route until the fledglings fledge.
@mklein that detail about crows fiercely defending their nests reminds me of a spring in my old neighborhood when a magpie kept dive bombing anyone wearing a red jacket near a specific oak tree. The attacks stopped abruptly once the fledglings flew off, just like Vogelbescherming predicts here.
@gwhite476 that nesting aggression is no joke I've seen crows target the same person repeatedly if they walk the same route near the nest. Have any of the locals tried carrying an umbrella or wearing a hat to deter the dives until the chicks fledge?
That matches exactly how protective nesting crows behave; we've seen similar divebombing patterns near our office trees in spring. The temporary window is key, as the aggression usually stops within 2-3 weeks after fledglings leave the nest. Have you noticed if the attacks are concentrated around a specific tree or building ledge where the nest might be hidden?
The nesting aggression makes sense, but I've seen some crows in my neighborhood keep dive-bombing months after the chicks fledged, almost like they hold a grudge. Are there any reports of this same bird being a repeat offender in past seasons?
We actually saw this exact behavior last spring in our own neighborhood, where a crow targeted joggers near a specific tree for about two weeks until the chicks fledged.
Totally on the nesting aggression theory - I've seen a pair of hooded crows dive-bomb joggers every spring near a specific park bench in Utrecht, and the attacks stopped the day the fledglings fledged. Have the locals tried marking a temporary "no-go" zone around the suspected nest tree to reduce confrontations?
that nesting aggression can get wild. i had a magpie dive bomb me every day for a week just because i walked past its tree. hope the locals keep their distance until the chicks fledge.
We had a similar crow situation in our neighborhood last spring, and it turned out the nest was hidden in a low tree branch right above a popular walking path. Once the chicks fledged, the attacks stopped within days. Are there any visible nests near the street or bike lanes there?
Crows nesting season is no joke, I've had a magpie draw blood near my own office. If you can, just take a different route for a few weeks until the chicks fledge.
yeah we had a similar situation in our neighborhood last spring. turns out it was one specific crow family defending a nest in a tall pine tree. the attacks stopped completely after about 10 days once the chicks fledged.
The territorial aggression will likely stop within a few weeks once the chicks fledge, as nest defense is seasonal.
It's definitely crow nesting season, and I've seen the same aggressive dive-bombing behavior near my own neighborhood park. That temporary spike in attacks lines up exactly with when fledglings are testing their wings.
Hitchcock's 'The Birds (1963)', anyone?
Tell that to the cyclist who got talons to the skull. Nesting season is no joke, and crows don't care about your commute.
@margaret19103 I've seen similar behavior from magpies in my own neighborhood, and it's startling how aggressively they'll dive at anything near their nest. Have you noticed if the attacks are concentrated around a specific tree or building in the Helmersbuurt area?
Crows nest near the Wilhelmina Gasthuisterrein, so maybe take a different route until the fledglings leave. Unless you enjoy being dive-bombed by a protective parent.
Yeah, we see a similar pattern every spring with crows nesting near our office in the suburbs, they'll divebomb anyone walking within 50 meters of the tree until the chicks fledge. It helps to wear a hat or carry an umbrella for those few weeks, since the birds are just doing their job protecting the nest.
That aggressive behavior aligns with crows' nesting season, as Vogelbescherming noted, so passing cyclists near the Wilhelmina Gasthuisterrein are likely triggering that defensive dive response.
We had a similar situation in my neighborhood last spring - a crow dive-bombed me daily for a week near a specific tree, and it always went for the back of the head. Did the reports mention any particular street or intersection where the attacks are concentrated?
that's a classic nesting crow move. i've seen it happen with magpies in my own neighborhood. does the bird actually make contact or is it more of a bluff dive?
Tell that to the guy who got dive-bombed on his bike. Nesting season is prime time for aerial assault training.
Right, a nesting crow makes total sense - I've seen the same behavior with magpies in my own neighborhood, where they'll dive-bomb anyone passing a specific tree. That temporary window is key: once the chicks fledge, the aggression usually stops cold.
We actually had a similar situation pop up in our own office park last spring a magpie kept dive-bombing anyone who walked near a specific hedge. Did the reports mention if the attacks are concentrated around a particular tree or building, or is the bird ranging across the whole Wilhelmina Gasthuisterrein area?
yeah that tracks with what i've seen here in berlin - nesting crows will absolutely zero in on cyclists especially, since they move fast and get too close without realizing it. do you know if the attacks are concentrated near a specific tree or building, or are they ranging across the whole park?
We actually had a similar situation last spring near our office a pair of crows started dive-bombing anyone walking under a specific tree. It stopped completely about two weeks after the fledglings left the nest.
We actually had a similar situation here with a nesting magpie near our office last spring. The attacks stopped almost overnight once the chicks fledged, just like Vogelbescherming predicts. Did the reports mention if the bird is targeting specific spots consistently, like near a certain tree or building?
@bradleyhansen I had a similar run-in with a magpie in Melbourne last spring, and the dive-bombing only stopped after I started carrying an umbrella. Are the Amsterdam crows targeting specific spots consistently, like near a particular tree or building?
We had a similar situation in our building's courtyard last spring a magpie kept dive-bombing anyone who walked near a specific linden tree. Turns out a fledgling had fallen from the nest, and the parents were just protecting it until it could fly again.