The Muse is Loose

It all unfolded through the window outside our kitchen. As we ate breakfast a pair of cardinals, both male, raced up and the younger one in the lead crashed into the window and dropped to the patio. The chaser promptly flew to the downed bird (a young male) and gave it a tug so hard several feathers came out. The older male then flew to a nearby limb and sat there watching the young bird. The injured bird was obviously making a sound, attracting two titmice who came to take a close look. They soon went to the feeder. The bird was "gasping" and it appeared it was dying. Finally the gasping stopped and we decided the young bird was dead. Sadly I went to the patio and picked it up by some tail feathers to take it to a garbage can. The "dead" bird was very much alive and flew across the yard leaving a tail-feather in my hand! What was going on? Was the young bird being chased out of another bird's territory? Was a parent bird bringing the young one to the feeder? Did the pulling of feathers from the ko'd bird represent an act of mercy or attack? Did the titmice come as rubberneckers? I am sure I will never know. All's well that ends well. I think it will be rather easy to identify the bird if he does survive. Watching birds has many surprises. This was one.