@@Raison_d-etre I think the bird lulls the fox into thinking it's grooming, removing lice, fleas and ticks etc and waits for fox to settle before beginning proper plucking.
Quite a few people suggested this and I'm sure you're all right. Plucking live animals is apparently a known behavior in birds like titmouses when they're busy nest building in the spring, and the animals they pluck are all happy to lose some of their winter coats.
No you got the chicken and egg who was first in the wrong order. The fox ate birds, so this bird is taking back his due from the fox who grew hairs out of bird meals.
Fox had fed itself very well. There was no need infact the fox was tired and need to relax. It happens to us that we need that time to chill and forget the distractors after all they add nothing to us. Nor they can't harm us. Think about when it was a leopard 🐆. Would that fox relax.
Actually I think it's the opposite, it probably feels good tbh and he wasn't hunting he was napping so there's no reason to hurt the bird and the bird knew it. Nature is wayyyy more symbiotic than humans think.
Isn't that hilarious? She actually hops up and kind of kicks the fox a couple of times right at the beginning before she gets to work. Just to see what kind of response she's going to get. The nerve!
@@TexasBackyardWildlife something's telling that both the fox and the bird benefit from this. Just like those tiny fish swimming together with sharks and whales (while picking up on parasites or dead skin).
@@TheMajkla YES! Ok, you saw it, too. What is that called with the sharks and remoras? Is that also symbiosis? It seemed like the fox repositioned to a particular tummy spot and let the titmouse go for it, like, “a little to the left.” 🤗 Those bebbehs are getting the highest quality remi in that weave. Sparrow no expense!
I actually saw this happen to my dog. He was sunbathing and a bird landed on his butt and took some of his hair to build their nest in our backyard. I don’t think they’d take it from dead animals b/c of all the bugs and parasites in it. Birds are usually very tidy with their nests.
My grandmother used to brush her hair outside on the back porch and toss it out into the yard. When I was twelve, I found a bird's nest under a big pine tree that was lined with silver grandma hair!
I guess if it's spring, the animals might be shedding their winter coats at the same time the birds need to make their nests, so maybe it works out for both of them.
This is an amazing footage. The docile fox just let the bird went about with its business. I like how the bird took its own sweet time to pick a good spot and harvest the fur.
My dog's fine & silky hair used to get in the fake plastic "grass" doormat on my back porch...& the little birds would come down & pluck out beakfulls of it for their nests!
I usually groom my poodle outside and one day I left some of her hair on the lawn and I saw a hummingbird carrying hair back and forth from a nest she was building using the dog hair. It was super cute!
I used to have a Pyrenees mix that guarded my goats and when I brushed him out in the spring there was oodles of fur. One day about a week after he started his spring shed I went to take him out to brush him and there were birds of all kinds literally lined up on the fence waiting. So after I was done I went into the barn to do some chores and when I looked out about an hour later pretty much all but a few tufts of the fur were gone. Needless to say most of the nests were easy to spot because they were all lined with bright white fur. 😅
Man, this is the equivalent of parents trying to sleep in the morning of a big road trip and the kids just come in jumping on the bed and poking at them going "Are we going yet? Are we going yet? Are we going yet?" Poor fox.....
I remember seeing this with my German Shepard a few years ago. He was snoozing on the porch and it was spring, anyone who’s had a shepherd knows how they shed. That bird was going crazy pulling his lose fur.
It seems to be a really well-known behavior. I think we were just about the last people in the world to find out that birds like the titmouse often harvest spring fur from mammals that might normally eat them for lunch.
This is so cute. It looks like the Titmouse is totally taking advantage, like it's taking as much as it's little beak can carry. But I'm sure the fox wouldn't put up with having fur stolen if it hurt. It's probably like a massage. That is one chilled out fox by the end of the video.
A crow used to do that to one of my dogs. Super mellow dog the crow had taken time, over years, to get to know. The crow and dog used to snooze on the deck just a couple feet apart. So cool you built a den!
Bird brain - definition....smarter than you think. After grooming my dogs or cats, I always clean out the brushes and let the fur fly outside. It doesn't take long for the birds to recycle it for their nests. Awesome video!!
@@TexasBackyardWildlife My wife does the same thing after grooming her horses. But only the shorter, softer horse hair. Birds can get tangled in the mane hair. Blue birds and mockingbirds love the soft, short stuff.
@Harry64278 I heard about this many years ago and then started throwing the lint from my dryer in my own backyard. I watched a Wren take some of the lint in the backyard for a nearby nest and also observed a Mockingbird doing the same.
I think the fox decided it kind of liked the treatment and knew exactly what was going on: Spring, nest building shedding and all that... Maybe it was also exhausted after a hard nights work?
This is so incredible. I always thought the just collect the hair from the environment, never thought the would be so brave to come to a sleeping predator
Yes, the chicks will be very comfortable. We have a titmouse nest on our live stream at the moment - lots of fur and (we think) 6 or 7 eggs. texasbackyardwildlife.com/live-stream/. We don't think it's the same titmouse - the timing for adding fur didn't quite match. This shows the mama titmouse starting work on the nest: texasbackyardwildlife.com/nesting-titmouses-days-1-2-building-a-mattress-of-moss/
Thank you so much for sharing this joyous vid!!! I live in Northern CA & about 15 years ago a mom & 5 kit foxes showed up in our backyard. The kits climbed our Japanese maple & jumped from branch to branch chasing each other!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes. And back then, I had no vid camera or smart phone. No one I told this to could believe that fox kits could climb a tree, much less jump from branch to branch. It was the most beautiful, joyous sight.
Have you seen the video showing some kits having a tree-climbing party? I'm thinking you have, but just in case: texasbackyardwildlife.com/flying-foxes-did-you-know-that-gray-foxes-can-climb-trees/. They are amazingly agile climbers. You can send a link to the video to everyone who doubted your story from 15 years ago!
I did see that video! In fact, I thought that was the vid I was commenting on but somehow it ended up with this vid. Who knows? Anyhoo, yes! Gray foxes are just too cool! :)
I sometimes find horse hair in the garage, the swallows collect it from the horses next door for nest lining. They nests are in the rafters, the swallows not the horses.
@Coo Koo Very close to the 70s but I have been bald since the damn birds found me and plucked my hair off since I was 40 and I love a nap in the garden with a beer on my stomach.😂😂🤣
@@TexasBackyardWildlife Yeah I have a long-haired cat and every year about this time he likes to have his hair pulled on because it speeds along the process of losing that heavy coat. Maybe it's itchy or uncomfortable whenever the hair is still in the follicle but is on its way out.
Yes!...with my longhair cats, if you pinch with just the right amount of force, only the shedding hair comes out, and they really seem to appreciate it, especially around the neck area. For the fox, it seems like an easy meal, but he probably knew there was no chance without the element of surprise.
They even sorta purr when they cuddle and are pet. I saw a video of a guy with a rescue fox and when it laid on his belly to take a nap it was purring. Foxes also have retractable claws like a cat and climb trees, and solo stalk prey at night like a cat and unlike a dog
I was thinking the same thing, maybe when it’s looking around the fur. It’s looking for the loose fur and trying not to pluck fur that isn’t loose, so it doesn’t wake the fox up completely.
the fox is actually enjoying this, it's getting a free plucking. Utter cute and very nice to watch my favorite two animals, foxes and birds, coexist like this.
Lots of commenters have told us that they've seen small birds plucking the winter coats of furry mammals - it seems to be a pretty common behavior among some birds when they're nest building and the animals all seem to tolerate it. When the animal is shedding, perhaps it doesn't hurt at all, just a minor irritation and both sides benefit.
@@stephanieashton8835 hi steph. Yes they are beautiful. I love the color pattern as well on this guy. They are beautiful animals. Always liked the foxes. Tc b safe. ❣
I can confirm over the years I have encountered pics, videos, and anecdotes about titmice doing this to other animals as well, cats, skunks, groundhogs even raccoons and people. I guess they're not very picky as long as their subject is cooperative! Haha
We thought it was the most extraordinary thing we'd ever seen but then read that it was a known behavior. Why did the fox not just try to snap up the bird? Someone else commented that the fox was probably losing his winter coat and perhaps some of the fur came out quite easily. I definitely would not try this with a skunk (but our local skunks can be pretty cranky).
@@TexasBackyardWildlife Could it be that the "donor" animal notices that they profit by having the bird hold watch while they sleep? The bird looks up after every pluck, so it can't easily be approached without noticing. So while the bird keeps plucking, the fox knows he's safe from larger predators.
Could be, but in this case the fox had deliberately chosen to nap in a very protected spot. He's outside a den in an area completely encircled by a high wall of piled-up dead cedar brush. There's no way for a coyote or dog to get in without making a huge amount of noise.
We used to have a big family of gray foxes sleep on our deck from early morning until early afternoon for years. Sadly in 2019 they stopped coming and I haven't seen one since then so seeing a gray fox again really made my day! Great video :)
Have never seen anything like this before on ANY NATURE CHANNEL after all these years!!!! Lolll like what the heck lol. One of the most interesting things I have ever seen! And the fox just gave up lol 😂😂
We were so surprised to see it. Lots of people have commented that they've seen little bird plucking their pets, though. It's smart, if you can get away with it.
This is great too. And a great story. I've seen that in the inside of nests before but never knew it could be related to this! Fox probably finds it relaxing and that's why he falls asleep, in relaxation! Yes, similar textures to the amazing owl video. A camera that's not moving with that overcast weather equals "great lighting." Plus you've got great energy as a steward of the land. Bless you.
We were astounded to see the titmouse get away with pulling fur out of a live fox. Truly one of the most remarkable things we've ever caught on video. You're right that the fox seemed to relax and - perhaps - quite enjoy it all.
So funny...maybe it's the odd soothing of being plucked that helps zonk out the fox. You're a lucky dog to witness a budding symbiotic relationship. Thanks for sharing!!
At first I thought she was searching the fur for ticks/fleas for a meal. Very cool to learn otherwise. 2:56 Woah, she's really getting a beak full there!! Lol Amazing footage my fellow Texan!! Love it!
Excellent! The fox and titmouse video is one of our current favorites. It has made our day to hear that it also made yours! Have you seen this one? texasbackyardwildlife.com/the-tale-of-the-brave-raccoon-cub/ It's a really astonishing story about a baby raccoon from last year.
That is so amazing! In the beginning, the bird reminded me of a little kid annoying a very tired parent. By the end, seeing that beak-full of fur was astonishing. I'm also impressed with how close the bird came to the fox's mouth a few times. That is real spunk and courage.
What a generous fox! What a healing my heart! The two cute gestures make me smile. The photographer has an endless love for these creations. Thank you for providing a great video.
When I brush my dog in the spring and leave out the tufts of hair the birds come out to retrieve the tufts. The birds literally gather while I’m doing this.
I’ve seen nesting birds hopping all over horses in the Spring plucking away on their shaggy shedding winder coats.. it’s so cute watching the tiny birds try to fly away with huge hairy mustaches.
This video is amazing thanks so much for sharing. We have these birds around all the time on our feeders, we call them the mohawks. They are very hyper birds and funny to watch.
Mohawks is a great name for them. Perfect. They seem to be gutsy little birds. The raw footage shows the titmouse testing the fox patiently for hours before she finally started pulling out fur. It was a very careful and calculated assault. The fox, it seems, just got used to her and decided to sleep through it.
@@TexasBackyardWildlife I was actually referring to that episode of SpongeBob, where they (Patrick and SpongeBob) take all the fur from their friend Sandy, to survive the winter.
Titmice have plucked hair from our Sheltie, Riley, multiple times, including one flying into the house to do the harvesting. Riley was almost as tolerant as this fox. I like your description of the titmouse giving the fox a few trial taps to get it habituated to the process of fur harvesting.
That's so interesting, Chris. We've heard from others that they've seen this behavior before, too. We were completely stunned. We couldn't believe the fox let the little titmouse pull out a sizable mustache of fur.
I've seen the video with small bird harvesting the Golden Retriver's undercoat. The reason the mamals are lackadasial about the bird picking at the undercoat, is they shed that undercoat in spring. If you watch any dog grooming channels, you will see that the spring shed produces almost a second animal. I've known Goldens and German Shepherds where you could grab a handful of their coat, and fill your hand with undercoat that comes off with ease. Despite being prey, this Titmouse is doing the fox a service. What a brilliant camoflauge for the bird! Their nest will smell like their predators and help to protect their young from other predators.
You're clearly right - the titmouse wasn't hurting the fox. If she had been, the fox wouldn't have tolerated being plucked. The titmouse must have been taking fur that the fox was shedding anyway.
Tufted titmice (close relatives to the bird in this video) are my favorite birds. I think it is a little risky for them to get material for nesting for live animals though. Extremely cool little birds. Thank you for sharing this amazing video.
We're hearing lots of reports of titmice plucking pet dogs and horses, and even people. It does seem truly risky, but apparently it's a known behavior. We were stunned when we saw this little one plucking a fox, but our commenters seem to have often seen it before.
![เปิดบ้าน โคตรสวย ป๋องกพล รู้จักตั้งนาน เพิ่งรู้ว่ารวย!!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tmgCF_2HfYI/mqdefault.jpg)
That is one determined and brave homeowner bird.
Yes, a gutsy little plucker.
@@George89999 Nah, there isn't that much loose hair around. And the way the fox reacts it's clear that when it is awake, it is bothersome.
@@Raison_d-etre I think the bird lulls the fox into thinking it's grooming, removing lice, fleas and ticks etc and waits for fox to settle before beginning proper plucking.
Quite a few people suggested this and I'm sure you're all right. Plucking live animals is apparently a known behavior in birds like titmouses when they're busy nest building in the spring, and the animals they pluck are all happy to lose some of their winter coats.
Totally!! LOL love it.
Today I learned foxes don't eat birds because they're food, but just because they're annoying hair-thieves 😂
No you got the chicken and egg who was first in the wrong order. The fox ate birds, so this bird is taking back his due from the fox who grew hairs out of bird meals.
Fox had fed itself very well. There was no need infact the fox was tired and need to relax. It happens to us that we need that time to chill and forget the distractors after all they add nothing to us. Nor they can't harm us. Think about when it was a leopard 🐆. Would that fox relax.
Foxes need to lose their winter coats in spring and it would have been relaxing to be plucked by that bird
the fox is like : get your fucking fur and fuck off ! let me sleep !
Actually I think it's the opposite, it probably feels good tbh and he wasn't hunting he was napping so there's no reason to hurt the bird and the bird knew it. Nature is wayyyy more symbiotic than humans think.
I like how the bird is stomping around trying to find the fluffiest fur on the sleeping Fox. Apparently, it feels good lol
Isn't that hilarious? She actually hops up and kind of kicks the fox a couple of times right at the beginning before she gets to work. Just to see what kind of response she's going to get. The nerve!
@@TexasBackyardWildlife something's telling that both the fox and the bird benefit from this. Just like those tiny fish swimming together with sharks and whales (while picking up on parasites or dead skin).
This is soooo cute
@@TheMajkla YES! Ok, you saw it, too. What is that called with the sharks and remoras? Is that also symbiosis? It seemed like the fox repositioned to a particular tummy spot and let the titmouse go for it, like, “a little to the left.” 🤗
Those bebbehs are getting the highest quality remi in that weave. Sparrow no expense!
@@TheMajkla yeah my guess is the bird is mostly grabbing bits of the fox's winter coat that it hasn't managed to fully shed off yet.
It’s so cute how the fox smushes his face and covers it with his paws
People are telling us that it's a very cat-like mannerism. It is funny, isn't it?
@@TexasBackyardWildlife It is! My cat often sleeps just like that!
I was gonna say this looks like how my kitty sleeps too!!
But foxes are closer to dogs than cats
Didn't want its whiskers taken by the bird....?
Plot twist: the fox is letting it build a nest so that there would be more food in the future 😳
It's probably a symbiotic relationship - the fox is getting rid of old winter fur while the birds gather it in the springtime for their nests.
Sorry mate. That is NOT a flying fox....🦇 🦊 🤣
Was looking for this comment
No... The fox ate that bird in her last life and now he's thanking her in this life with a warm nest.
Lol I was thinking that...like lambs to the slaughter...
I actually saw this happen to my dog. He was sunbathing and a bird landed on his butt and took some of his hair to build their nest in our backyard. I don’t think they’d take it from dead animals b/c of all the bugs and parasites in it. Birds are usually very tidy with their nests.
We had never seen it before and didn't know it was standard procedure for titmouses. Did your dog get annoyed?
So the bird built a nest from your dog's butt hair? 🤣🤣
@@zoeydeu2261 Dog: what the heck are you doing
Bird: whatever Skippy just try not to fart
birds are tidy around their nests? Huh? Pigeons arent.
@@KingDomIV there's a video about robins keeping their nest clean. It's disturbing.
the bird is beautiful, the fox is beautiful, nature is beautiful!
You should hear them sing.
They both are so beautiful, gorgeous colours❤️
I’m beautiful too
I can help but read this in a Micheal Clump voice 😂
It is its amazing.I love it!I love the Fox! And this little Titmouse so cute!🐺❤🐦
The fact the fox and bird's coats share the same color palette is aesthetically pleasing to me😌
I know! We just love that. They are a work of art together.
That fox fur is beautiful!
Good observation. They actually do share the same color palette!
Thank you, I haven't noticed it before. Makes this video even more pleasing 😌
Exactly my thought 😂
My grandmother used to brush her hair outside on the back porch and toss it out into the yard. When I was twelve, I found a bird's nest under a big pine tree that was lined with silver grandma hair!
That's a great story. Very touching, somehow.
When my chihuahua was alive I always brushed him outside in the spring so the birds would have nice soft fur for their nests.
I guess if it's spring, the animals might be shedding their winter coats at the same time the birds need to make their nests, so maybe it works out for both of them.
That would be just like God to set that up for that!
Having dogs that blow their coat twice a year i hang their fur in mesh laundry bags. Never takes birds very long to clear it out.
That's completely brilliant! We love it.
Thanks for the idea. My husky sheds a ton so she will soon be contributing
@@yunengdahl3675 Yup. My Malamute, and Leonberger have make a lot of cozy nests in my neck of the woods. LOL
Dogs that "blow their coat"?
@@DrLumpyDMus Common term for breeds of dogs that completly shed their winter and summer coats. Husky, Malamute, Great Pyrenees. Leonberger, etc.
A fine bird becomes a mustached birdie. That's a huge transformation.
Yeah. It's pretty funny, that mustache.
Yes, probably Prussian, Bird von Hindenburg.
I pissed in my pants laughing 😂 That was has been seen, can't be unseen 😂😂😂
The moustache fits his hairdo though
This could be an adorable pokemon 💕
Fox is amazingly patient with this bird. This bird is so brave.
It's surprising, isn't it?
Reminds me of the Spongebob when he kept taking Sandy’s hair for warmth during the winter
*The titmouse suddenly pulls out a roll of industrial strength duct tape*
@@yukowolfang8645 LOLLLLL
😆🤣🤣😂
Which one of you is Dirty Dan..
This is exactly that scene and you can't convince me otherwise.
This is an amazing footage. The docile fox just let the bird went about with its business. I like how the bird took its own sweet time to pick a good spot and harvest the fur.
Yes. It's quite something, isn't it?
the fox is like fine just do it and stop bothering me so i can sleep lol
Probably feels like a good back scratcher....ahhh 💘
When people groom their pets they should leave the hair outside for the wildlife. I do and it’s always gone the next day.
There aren't enough wild animals in my entire town to use all the hair that comes off of my dogs.
My dog's fine & silky hair used to get in the fake plastic "grass" doormat on my back porch...& the little birds would come down & pluck out beakfulls of it for their nests!
I usually groom my poodle outside and one day I left some of her hair on the lawn and I saw a hummingbird carrying hair back and forth from a nest she was building using the dog hair. It was super cute!
The “Magic of Wind” . Just sayin
I used to have a Pyrenees mix that guarded my goats and when I brushed him out in the spring there was oodles of fur. One day about a week after he started his spring shed I went to take him out to brush him and there were birds of all kinds literally lined up on the fence waiting. So after I was done I went into the barn to do some chores and when I looked out about an hour later pretty much all but a few tufts of the fur were gone. Needless to say most of the nests were easy to spot because they were all lined with bright white fur. 😅
I moustache you a question, "May I grab a beakful of fur?"
Very nice pun!
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🕊
Cool
🤣🤣🤣
Man, this is the equivalent of parents trying to sleep in the morning of a big road trip and the kids just come in jumping on the bed and poking at them going "Are we going yet? Are we going yet? Are we going yet?"
Poor fox.....
Fox got a massage! It felt great!
"you're shedding anyway!"
Fox: "mmm'kay"..
The lesson from this..dont lie down for a nap in the forest you'll wake up bald 😀🤣🤣
dang it - i wondered how it happened
Hahhahahhahah 😂😂😂😂😂😂😃
Noted lmao!!
ROFL
I remember seeing this with my German Shepard a few years ago. He was snoozing on the porch and it was spring, anyone who’s had a shepherd knows how they shed. That bird was going crazy pulling his lose fur.
It seems to be a really well-known behavior. I think we were just about the last people in the world to find out that birds like the titmouse often harvest spring fur from mammals that might normally eat them for lunch.
This is so cute. It looks like the Titmouse is totally taking advantage, like it's taking as much as it's little beak can carry. But I'm sure the fox wouldn't put up with having fur stolen if it hurt. It's probably like a massage. That is one chilled out fox by the end of the video.
I know. Isn't it surprising? The fox almost seemed to enjoy it.
@@TexasBackyardWildlife Yes. It's really interesting to watch. Thanks for uploading 👍
A crow used to do that to one of my dogs. Super mellow dog the crow had taken time, over years, to get to know. The crow and dog used to snooze on the deck just a couple feet apart. So cool you built a den!
That is a great, great story! Crows are such smart, surprising birds. I love it that the crow and your dog were friends.
That’s one “plucky” little bird!
It was indeed.
Aww that Fox was having such a nice nap
Bird brain - definition....smarter than you think. After grooming my dogs or cats, I always clean out the brushes and let the fur fly outside. It doesn't take long for the birds to recycle it for their nests. Awesome video!!
What a great idea! We will suggest it to our friends who have pets. And your definition of "bird brain" is, of course, 100% true.
@@TexasBackyardWildlife My wife does the same thing after grooming her horses. But only the shorter, softer horse hair. Birds can get tangled in the mane hair. Blue birds and mockingbirds love the soft, short stuff.
Lint from your dryer works too.
@Harry64278 I heard about this many years ago and then started throwing the lint from my dryer in my own backyard. I watched a Wren take some of the lint in the backyard for a nearby nest and also observed a Mockingbird doing the same.
Here on out we'll put our drier lint outside in the spring. Thank you!
I think the fox decided it kind of liked the treatment and knew exactly what was going on: Spring, nest building shedding and all that... Maybe it was also exhausted after a hard nights work?
I was thinking of shedding too
"Pat, are you crazy?!"
"No, I'm warm..."
This is so incredible. I always thought the just collect the hair from the environment, never thought the would be so brave to come to a sleeping predator
Lucky chicks in their fox fur lined nest , with their magical parents.🦉
Yes, the chicks will be very comfortable. We have a titmouse nest on our live stream at the moment - lots of fur and (we think) 6 or 7 eggs. texasbackyardwildlife.com/live-stream/. We don't think it's the same titmouse - the timing for adding fur didn't quite match. This shows the mama titmouse starting work on the nest: texasbackyardwildlife.com/nesting-titmouses-days-1-2-building-a-mattress-of-moss/
It's Fox fur baby nothing but the best
This is just the most adorable birb ever
She's a clever little thing, isn't she?
birbs are so beaudiful
@FantasticMrNick Aw somebody mad because this lil bird got more views than your entire channel?
Im sure the fox doesnt agree
He's not building a nest, he's making his partner a fur coat. 😁
😂😂best comment
👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😆
Hope the Peta people won't mind, no fox were killed for the fur coat!
That explains why I saw some liberals throwing red paint on a titmouse
The fox is just so chill and then it's like "hey not the butt fur!" And then just rolls over to continue sleeping
Thank you so much for sharing this joyous vid!!! I live in Northern CA & about 15 years ago a mom & 5 kit foxes showed up in our backyard. The kits climbed our Japanese maple & jumped from branch to branch chasing each other!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes. And back then, I had no vid camera or smart phone. No one I told this to could believe that fox kits could climb a tree, much less jump from branch to branch. It was the most beautiful, joyous sight.
Have you seen the video showing some kits having a tree-climbing party? I'm thinking you have, but just in case: texasbackyardwildlife.com/flying-foxes-did-you-know-that-gray-foxes-can-climb-trees/. They are amazingly agile climbers. You can send a link to the video to everyone who doubted your story from 15 years ago!
I did see that video! In fact, I thought that was the vid I was commenting on but somehow it ended up with this vid. Who knows? Anyhoo, yes! Gray foxes are just too cool! :)
What a beautiful brave little bird...
Bless it's lil mustache 😌
I sometimes find horse hair in the garage, the swallows collect it from the horses next door for nest lining. They nests are in the rafters, the swallows not the horses.
I was imagining the horses in nests high above their stables. Maybe that's how Pegasus was born 😁
Thank you for the clarification ... I was confused as to which creature was nesting in your garage
I once found a nest with my hair and my horse's woven into it. Gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling... hopefully it did the same for the wee birds!
Mother nature is awesome in her Intricacy.
Father God;)
@@dennismelton2261
or maybe Daddy Devil?! :P
@Mike Barnes
yeah, the truth that nature works without the influence of any external or internal magic
@Mike Barnes I know
@@i.i.iiii.i.i not For Me
That bird is going for a great personal color scheme in her nest. Slate gray.
She was very fashion conscious.
Фауна нашей планеты,как и её флора, никогда не перестанет удивлять наши души !!! Какое чудесное видео!👏👏👏
большое спасибо!
This has to be the best thing I've seen all day. We watch all of your videos and live feed as much as possible.
We were amazed at the fox's patience. It was the best thing we had seen all day, too!
Now I know why I'm bald - :)
@Coo Koo Very close to the 70s but I have been bald since the damn birds found me and plucked my hair off since I was 40 and I love a nap in the garden with a beer on my stomach.😂😂🤣
@Coo Koo im 24 and im ready to off myself already lol
@Coo Koo I’ll translate
“We seek death “
Why must I always come across cursed comment sections
I wonder if maybe the fox is losing its winter coat so it kind of feels good to have the hair pulled on.
That's what lots of people are suggesting. Apparently titmouses do this with all kinds of other animals.
@@TexasBackyardWildlife Yeah I have a long-haired cat and every year about this time he likes to have his hair pulled on because it speeds along the process of losing that heavy coat. Maybe it's itchy or uncomfortable whenever the hair is still in the follicle but is on its way out.
Yes!...with my longhair cats, if you pinch with just the right amount of force, only the shedding hair comes out, and they really seem to appreciate it, especially around the neck area. For the fox, it seems like an easy meal, but he probably knew there was no chance without the element of surprise.
Most likely that's exactly what's happening.
I love the idea that you made a corral for them. Glad he's not too hungry😊
It never ceases to amaze me just how “cat like” foxes are... 🦊 🐱
Foxes are essentially a mix between a cat and a dog.
They even sorta purr when they cuddle and are pet. I saw a video of a guy with a rescue fox and when it laid on his belly to take a nap it was purring. Foxes also have retractable claws like a cat and climb trees, and solo stalk prey at night like a cat and unlike a dog
@@Thee-_-Outlierso many animals purr, from mice to bears
Fox shedding winter coat, and bird is helping the fox while helping himself to some nest lining?
That's an interesting thought. It certainly didn't seem to hurt the fox to be plucked so perhaps the fur was already loose. A very good explanation.
Yes. But bird could end up as tasty treat for fox. Very brave.
I was thinking the same.
Yeah that seems likely. Loose fur is itchy so it would incentivise the fox to allow the bird to do it.
I was thinking the same thing, maybe when it’s looking around the fur. It’s looking for the loose fur and trying not to pluck fur that isn’t loose, so it doesn’t wake the fox up completely.
What a fine video! Capturing a unique wildlife interaction. Wonderful!
Thank you.
The fox is getting a massage/ wax/ grooming session while it sleeps 😁😅 the lil birdie is brave and stubborn gotta give him that haha
This is the most beautiful fox ever! What a masterpiece of nature ❤️
I feel sorry for the poor fox trying to rest. Interesting behavior on the part of the bird!
don't. This is doing the fox a favor, he needs to molt from winter furr to summer furr anyway.
OK Karen
If the fox didn't like it it would have done something
@@goognamgoognw6637 he would have done it himself
@@melanopygus he didn't like it clearly. He just slept through it
wow I never would have imagined a symbiotic relationship like that. Thanks
the fox is actually enjoying this, it's getting a free plucking. Utter cute and very nice to watch my favorite two animals, foxes and birds, coexist like this.
So you think they grow their beautiful fur to be plucked.
@@Raison_d-etre This was in February, the fox will be shedding his winter coat, so the bird is helping him out as well.
@@nickymarch2914 People are 🐏🐑 and you're proof. Ask your doctor why pulling out white hair is a bad idea. Then apply the idea to this thread.
Lots of commenters have told us that they've seen small birds plucking the winter coats of furry mammals - it seems to be a pretty common behavior among some birds when they're nest building and the animals all seem to tolerate it. When the animal is shedding, perhaps it doesn't hurt at all, just a minor irritation and both sides benefit.
This bird is getting nesting and flees off this dog ! Food and warmth for his kids !!! Awesome video !
She is lining her nest with fox fur. Very nice and soft.
I’ve seen birds do this when my huskies are molting and in the backyard snoozing
Isn't it great? We had no idea that birds would pluck live animals and we were stunned when we saw this.
This is one beautiful fox. And the birds little hairdo kills me. It's a baby mohawk. The fox is definitely taking that quite well. Awesome. Tysm 😊
Someone else commented that he/she great up calling tufted titmouses and black-crested titmouses "mohawk birds". It really is a perfect name for them.
А что ,блох что ли выклевает мудрая птица?
I believe that's a gray fox. They're native to North America and can climb trees. :) I always loved their coloration.
@@stephanieashton8835 hi steph. Yes they are beautiful. I love the color pattern as well on this guy. They are beautiful animals. Always liked the foxes. Tc b safe. ❣
I can confirm over the years I have encountered pics, videos, and anecdotes about titmice doing this to other animals as well, cats, skunks, groundhogs even raccoons and people. I guess they're not very picky as long as their subject is cooperative! Haha
We thought it was the most extraordinary thing we'd ever seen but then read that it was a known behavior. Why did the fox not just try to snap up the bird? Someone else commented that the fox was probably losing his winter coat and perhaps some of the fur came out quite easily. I definitely would not try this with a skunk (but our local skunks can be pretty cranky).
@@TexasBackyardWildlife Could it be that the "donor" animal notices that they profit by having the bird hold watch while they sleep? The bird looks up after every pluck, so it can't easily be approached without noticing. So while the bird keeps plucking, the fox knows he's safe from larger predators.
Could be, but in this case the fox had deliberately chosen to nap in a very protected spot. He's outside a den in an area completely encircled by a high wall of piled-up dead cedar brush. There's no way for a coyote or dog to get in without making a huge amount of noise.
We used to have a big family of gray foxes sleep on our deck from early morning until early afternoon for years. Sadly in 2019 they stopped coming and I haven't seen one since then so seeing a gray fox again really made my day! Great video :)
What a great thing to have been able to see. You lucky thing! Very sad that they moved away. I hope they're OK.
Have never seen anything like this before on ANY NATURE CHANNEL after all these years!!!! Lolll like what the heck lol. One of the most interesting things I have ever seen! And the fox just gave up lol 😂😂
We were so surprised to see it. Lots of people have commented that they've seen little bird plucking their pets, though. It's smart, if you can get away with it.
“If you’re eventually going to eat me, the least you can do in the meantime is to give me some fur for my nest”
Seems reasonable.
This is great too. And a great story. I've seen that in the inside of nests before but never knew it could be related to this! Fox probably finds it relaxing and that's why he falls asleep, in relaxation! Yes, similar textures to the amazing owl video. A camera that's not moving with that overcast weather equals "great lighting." Plus you've got great energy as a steward of the land. Bless you.
We were astounded to see the titmouse get away with pulling fur out of a live fox. Truly one of the most remarkable things we've ever caught on video. You're right that the fox seemed to relax and - perhaps - quite enjoy it all.
So funny...maybe it's the odd soothing of being plucked that helps zonk out the fox. You're a lucky dog to witness a budding symbiotic relationship. Thanks for sharing!!
Only thing I could think while watching this: that poor fox he just wants a nap
At first I thought she was searching the fur for ticks/fleas for a meal. Very cool to learn otherwise.
2:56 Woah, she's really getting a beak full there!! Lol
Amazing footage my fellow Texan!! Love it!
Isn't it interesting, Kristin? And yes, that was a lot of fur. Must have been a very cozy nest.
Эта птичка,для гнезда выщипывает мех у лисички , очень даже наглая, пользуется добротой лисы! Лайк!
Спасибо!
Привет Айлина! Я по английски - ни бельмеса, но тоже так подумал, что птахе мех нужен для гнезда! Рад был увидеть единомышленницу! )))
Hi Ailina - Nice to meet you, and yes, this titmouse is a very smart little bird, she knows fur makes a warm nest.
Не по доброте, что то лису совсем разморило, наверно всю ночь где то прошлялась.
Interesting that these critters both have the same coloration. The fox eventually just gives in to the titmouse!
What a cute video!
It took away the cares of the world, and put a smile on my face!
Thank you!
Good! It makes us smile, too, whenever we watch it. That tiny bird hopping around on the fox. It's really very funny.
you're doing an awesome job with these videos. thanks, they're making my day
Excellent! The fox and titmouse video is one of our current favorites. It has made our day to hear that it also made yours! Have you seen this one? texasbackyardwildlife.com/the-tale-of-the-brave-raccoon-cub/ It's a really astonishing story about a baby raccoon from last year.
One of my dogs would absolutely enjoy having her fur picked
Love this video still even though I've watched it a bunch of times😆 never gets old.
It doesn't, does it? I still get a kick out of it.
Just recently found this channel but I really have to commend you on your videos! And your narration is top-notch.
Thank you! We are having fun with the critters and it's good to know other people are enjoying the videos.
Foxy knows that this nest will be soon full of delicious little birdies...
This looks like a line from children books😄
That’s amazing. Gotta love nature 😍
That is so amazing! In the beginning, the bird reminded me of a little kid annoying a very tired parent. By the end, seeing that beak-full of fur was astonishing. I'm also impressed with how close the bird came to the fox's mouth a few times. That is real spunk and courage.
It astonished us, but since then we've heard lots of stories of little songbirds plucking fur and hair. They are brave little creatures.
What a generous fox! What a healing my heart! The two cute gestures make me smile. The photographer has an endless love for these creations. Thank you for providing a great video.
Thank you, that's very kind. We do love the critters. We have cameras all over our yard and they sometimes catch magical things.
wow great capture
That is absolutely hilarious! 😆
One of our all-time favorites.
When I brush my dog in the spring and leave out the tufts of hair the birds come out to retrieve the tufts. The birds literally gather while I’m doing this.
I’ve seen nesting birds hopping all over horses in the Spring plucking away on their shaggy shedding winder coats..
it’s so cute watching the tiny birds try to fly away with huge hairy mustaches.
Fox is beautiful,I really enjoy seeing them in the wild.
This video is amazing thanks so much for sharing. We have these birds around all the time on our feeders, we call them the mohawks. They are very hyper birds and funny to watch.
Mohawks is a great name for them. Perfect. They seem to be gutsy little birds. The raw footage shows the titmouse testing the fox patiently for hours before she finally started pulling out fur. It was a very careful and calculated assault. The fox, it seems, just got used to her and decided to sleep through it.
Plot twist: the birb just wanted a dr Robotnik style mustache.
The fox is getting a free SPA and massage
Seems like it.
At the end it was looking like a bird with a Big mustache! 😄
Yes! Exactly. Wasn't it funny?
The fox is like, ok, whatever. The bird is like, you eat us. I think you can afford this.
-You will being cleaner , please do not resist.
Bird
Fox: *rolls over* “you can get some floof from my belly too if you rub it a little”
Birb: “I accept your terms”
Bird outfoxes fox.
Yes! Very clever. Thank you.
Awww the fox is like "Not now... I'm snoozing...", so cute 😍
Proof that having your hair played with is the most relaxing thing in the world. 😊
What a bird. Love him
I'll lend my 2 huskies to this birdie to make the world largest birdie palace 😁
We asked the birds and they said "Very generous. Yes please!"
The bird was lucky he wasn't picking up fur from a hibernating squirrel.
Squirrels aren't carnivorous, though, and wouldn't eat a titmouse. With the fox, there was some real danger.
@@TexasBackyardWildlife I was actually referring to that episode of SpongeBob, where they (Patrick and SpongeBob) take all the fur from their friend Sandy, to survive the winter.
Dear Mr Fox,
Didn't your dad ever warn you, "You snooze, you lose?"
Titmice have plucked hair from our Sheltie, Riley, multiple times, including one flying into the house to do the harvesting. Riley was almost as tolerant as this fox. I like your description of the titmouse giving the fox a few trial taps to get it habituated to the process of fur harvesting.
That's so interesting, Chris. We've heard from others that they've seen this behavior before, too. We were completely stunned. We couldn't believe the fox let the little titmouse pull out a sizable mustache of fur.
Вот хулиганка маленькая... но гнездо то надо утеплить!! Лиса, само спокойствие. Необыкновенно чудесное видео!!💕
Спасибо, Маришка!
Great footage !
Thank you.
Fox is upset he doesnt get a happy ending.
I've seen the video with small bird harvesting the Golden Retriver's undercoat. The reason the mamals are lackadasial about the bird picking at the undercoat, is they shed that undercoat in spring. If you watch any dog grooming channels, you will see that the spring shed produces almost a second animal. I've known Goldens and German Shepherds where you could grab a handful of their coat, and fill your hand with undercoat that comes off with ease. Despite being prey, this Titmouse is doing the fox a service.
What a brilliant camoflauge for the bird! Their nest will smell like their predators and help to protect their young from other predators.
You're clearly right - the titmouse wasn't hurting the fox. If she had been, the fox wouldn't have tolerated being plucked. The titmouse must have been taking fur that the fox was shedding anyway.
Tufted titmice (close relatives to the bird in this video) are my favorite birds. I think it is a little risky for them to get material for nesting for live animals though. Extremely cool little birds. Thank you for sharing this amazing video.
We're hearing lots of reports of titmice plucking pet dogs and horses, and even people. It does seem truly risky, but apparently it's a known behavior. We were stunned when we saw this little one plucking a fox, but our commenters seem to have often seen it before.
Fox said said, damn it you’re ruining my nap!
Good one!