I’m going to still leave it inconclusive.# 19 is not the same bird as OP is Goshawk and this one is Sparrowhawk
You already said this - it's not helpful to repeat it - nor is it nice to tell the OP that effectively he is wasting his time by posting more photos. Nor is it good to assume that one set of photos of a bird not obviously moulting shows the same bird as one that obviously is moulting.the identification is undisputable
Indeed, this time a (moulting) female.# 19 is not the same bird as OP is Goshawk and this one is Sparrowhawk
this one is a different bird, a sparrowhawk (note barred secondaries). And yes, I'm certain about the first being a Goshawk, adult male.Sadly it was too far again, but this was taken in the same area today... I will be going back to get better photos.
May I ask what is best to look out for to make the separation of both birds when distant?this one is a different bird, a sparrowhawk (note barred secondaries). And yes, I'm certain about the first being a Goshawk, adult male.
it's a bit of experience you need to get the "feel" of Goshawk in distant birds - protruding head, bulging secondaries and - well - size, if you have a mobbing crow around: even a male Gos is slightly larger (wingspan) than a Carrion Crow or at least as large as the crow. Female Sparrowhawks already are dwarfed by crows.May I ask what is best to look out for to make the separation of both birds when distant?
With any relatively scarce species, very often the key to their identification in the field is to become really, really familiar with the more common confusion species. Watch sparrowhawks whenever you encounter them. Really watch them. Especially females. Watch them for long periods, at long range, when soaring, gliding and flapping. If you're old school, like me, you might even take notes(!). Build up your familiarity such that you recognise their quirks of structure and methods of flight, even in brief or distant views. There are lots of subtle cues of structure - the shape of the wings from different angles and at different points of the flight 'envelope' and flight action - the speed and depth of wingbeats, the length of glides, etc. that build up a picture of a bird in you mental database. Then, when you do encounter a goshawk, it should immediately stand out as different.May I ask what is best to look out for to make the separation of both birds when distant?
Sound advice; even then, on some views you will undoubtedly need to leave some individuals unidentified.With any relatively scarce species, very often the key to their identification in the field is to become really, really familiar with the more common confusion species. Watch sparrowhawks whenever you encounter them. Really watch them. Especially females. Watch them for long periods, at long range, when soaring, gliding and flapping. If you're old school, like me, you might even take notes(!). Build up your familiarity such that you recognise their quirks of structure and methods of flight, even in brief or distant views. There are lots of subtle cues of structure - the shape of the wings from different angles and at different points of the flight 'envelope' and flight action - the speed and depth of wingbeats, the length of glides, etc. that build up a picture of a bird in you mental database. Then, when you do encounter a goshawk, it should immediately stand out as different.
The most obvious feature to me is the different wing structure - fuller, more bulging secondaries and a longer, slightly narrower hand than a sparrowhawk, which is particularly noticeable at certain angles as a bird circles, but in addition to this, there are various features already mentioned, such as a more protruding head (often set off by a very deep, powerful chest), which can combine with the longer wings to give a cross like silhouette at very long range, not seen with the sparrowhawk's subtly more compact structure.
Of course, any raptor in flight goes through endless changes in posture, and a single photograph can often be misleading - wings flexed a little more than usual, head pulled in slightly - whereas these things even out over a more prolonged period of observation. However, going back to the original photos, there is everything needed there to be 100% confident in the identification - the second image in particular illustrates a typical goshawk flight posture, accentuating that secondary bulge and contrasting it with the hand, as well as showing the head protruding well forward of the wings.
It seems the OP commented that he needed better pics, apparently ignoring my comment that it was not need. I guessed he didn't read me so I reapted.You already said this - it's not helpful to repeat it - nor is it nice to tell the OP that effectively he is wasting his time by posting more photos. Nor is it good to assume that one set of photos of a bird not obviously moulting shows the same bird as one that obviously is moulting.
Just did… still suggested goshawk as the most likely option… lmaoAlso, maybe, try Merlin's Photo ID. I'm not saying it works well, but--from what I understand--it should be better at judging jizz and proportions than fine plumage features, and here you need the former. It should also have more photos of Sparrowhawks than Goshawks overall, so--if anything--it should be more biased towards considering Sparrowhawk rather than Goshawk.
I’ll be going back in about two weeks- two weeks in Charente and one week in the Pyrenees so I’ll have plenty of time to try and get a goshawk.The extensive 'bandit mask' could be a feature as well???