A very hungry Sparrowhawk (1 Viewer)

As some will know, I get regular visits from Sparrowhawks, and see new juves each year. It's just luck that nobody feeds the birds locally except for me, so there's always good numbers of potential prey in or near my garden. Incidentally, regular Sparrowhawk attacks does not have a detrimental effect on the bird population, at least not in my garden. I've large numbers of Sparrows and Starlings that breed nearby; both species had three broods this year. There's also plenty of Tits and Finches, Robins, Wrens, Dunnocks...etc. So all the local birds seem to prosper from the food, water, and cover (trees) I provide, including the Sparrowhawks.

ATM I've an adult male and a juvenile (probable male) visiting regularly; the adult male might be the same one that's been around for a few years, he disappears during the breeding season, maybe migrates. He's never been wary of me, and I can go into the garden without disturbing him when he's perched in my trees. I'm not yet sure this adult is him, but he's a Mouse specialist like the other one... so we'll see.

The first pic is of him perched on my fence, he'd just swooped into my trees, and then flew down to the fence. He's got a lot of worn (some very brown, Sun damaged?) feathers and is moulting, so he looks a mess. He's not calling, but choking on a feather; he expelled it successfully. I'd say it's a safe bet to assume he'd recently eaten, so I thought he's just digest his meal where he felt safe.

The second picture was taken about five minutes later, when he realised that one of the Starlings had only made it to the bush as he swooped into my trees. It took him a couple of minutes, but there was nowhere for the Starling to go, and the mantling (wings and tail spread to cover the prey) stopped it getting past the Sparrowhawk.

The third picture was taken as the Sparrowhawk took the Starling to the ground; notice the same mantling technique as in the bush, used for the same reason (limiting escape options), and probably to hide the prey from other predators. I've blurred the Starling's head, as some people are a bit squeamish

The fourth picture was taken over twenty minutes later, and there's mostly the body left, nothing but bones left of the head and neck. Not all Sparrowhawks eat the same way, some seem to prefer to eat the breast first, others the neck; some like what's inside the head Oh, while he was eating, one of the Mice ran from under the fence to try to get a monkey nut; it wasn't just me that saw him either, and I figured the Sparrowhawk would make a mental note of that behaviour for another time.

I'd taken 100s of pictures, and there wasn't any Squirrels about to interact with the Sparrowhawk, so I left him to finish his meal. I did hear the Pigeons spook a few times, so I'd guess he moved into my trees a bit later. The Pigeons don't notice a feeding Sparrowhawk at first, as they feel safe in my garden, but as soon as the Sparrowhawk spreads it's wings... they panic

When I looked up into my trees about twenty minutes later, I saw the Sparrowhawk had moved to my trees to finish his meal. Thirty minutes later and he was still there, but he wasn't eating the Starling, that was well gone... he was now eating a Mouse. No light and too many obstructions, but I'm hoping you can make out the tail in the last picture.

So, this Sparrowhawk has probably had three meals by 2pm... I'd guess that's a good day for him

(All pics taken through double glazing, and in poor light)

nice info chris and great captures.have seen the mantling before and think of it as a possesion and guarding habit.ps knew this was a male before i read i am getting better.hope you keep this thread going.all the best margaret.

Thanks Margaret; I'll add a few more pics...

The last is just before he flew in a semi-circle to take the Starling into my trees to his right.

Great information Chris and great photos. TFS

Thats a good thread very interesting and informative cheers, good pics too, :t:

Here's a few more pics from the same day/bird; like the rest, through the double glazing and poor light.

I'll maybe add pics of the next attack if it's either a different bird or interesting behaviour. Although judging by previous threads I've started, it's more likely that I'll forget

Excellent thread Chris, thanks.

Dave

:clap::clap::clap::clap:chris alot of great captures here.i hope your memory keeps up and more posts with info on these guys appear.super.all the best margaret.:king::king::king::king:

I thought I'd give an update of what's been happening the last few days; although the light wasn't good enough for decent pics.

First pic is one of the adult females that I got a better view of yesterday; she's about 25ft up one of my trees waiting to ambush a Pigeon, so not much of her showing... and as I mentioned, terrible light.

Pics two and three are of the adult male from this afternoon; it was pouring with rain, and he was soaking wet. It's the first time I've seen him struggle to fly with prey in his talons; it's a combination of moulting and getting wet. He was in my trees for ages, but ignored Chaffinches that fed within 3 feet of him. I thought he might have had a full crop and couldn't be bothered to expend the energy needed to catch a bird, but that wasn't why he ignored the Chaffinches... look closely at both pics, and you'll see he's caught another Mouse; you can see the tail in both pics, and an eye in the first.

It wasn't just poor light for these last two pics, the windows were (are still) dripping with rain, so I wouldn't usually bother trying to take pics, but I thought I'd try to share the behaviour, as it's not common behaviour that people see often.

I'll try ad get some decent pics when the light improves... assuming there's any Mice left locally