When we lived in the country the cats were able to go outside for most of the day. When they returned for supper I kept them in at night, so that they would not meet a skunk.
My poor old Siamese cat was the underdog in the cat-vs.-bird battle. He would go outside in "his" yard to enjoy the sun, and suddenly from above, the mockingbird would attack, diving at him. When Tim was not fast enough, the bird would peck at the top of the cat's head and then continue on his flight. He would come back again if Tim did not find another place in the yard to hang out.
The other two cats completely avoided that spot.
Obviously there was a mockingbird nest someplace close by.