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juv. Sparrowhawk (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter jeff
- Start date
Hi Michael,
Thanks,and not only that,but it's true as well!;-)
Have actually heard of far rarer raptors being seen in suburban gardens in Ireland:there is an accepted record of Hobby on a porch of a house near Ballymun in Dublin city!One of those would be nice for the garden list...
Harry H
Thanks,and not only that,but it's true as well!;-)
Have actually heard of far rarer raptors being seen in suburban gardens in Ireland:there is an accepted record of Hobby on a porch of a house near Ballymun in Dublin city!One of those would be nice for the garden list...
Harry H
digi-birder
Well-known member
In my Collins it says that the Female Sparrowhawk "can be confused with the male Goshawk, as size is not always obvious."
And it goes on: "Female larger than male with slate-grey upperparts; barring below is brown-grey."
"Juvenile: Dark brown upperparts. Barring below often coarse, broken up and irregular on breast."
The picture of the juvenile shows streaking under the throat, turning to barring on the breast.
The female also has a yellow cere.
And it goes on: "Female larger than male with slate-grey upperparts; barring below is brown-grey."
"Juvenile: Dark brown upperparts. Barring below often coarse, broken up and irregular on breast."
The picture of the juvenile shows streaking under the throat, turning to barring on the breast.
The female also has a yellow cere.
digi-birder
Well-known member
Grrr!
digi-birder
Well-known member
Great stuff!!
My nerves are much better now.
My nerves are much better now.
digi-birder
Well-known member
CJW said:
So that bird on your head is a.... Buzzard, is it?
saluki
Well-known member
I get the feeling your enjoying playing devils advocate 
, but I too would say it's a spar. I've had a few rescued spars when I was younger, one for around five years, and I picked an injured one up last year, which I gave to a friend. I see it on a weekly basis (that makes me sound like a divorced dad seeing the kids!) - she can't be released as she has a damaged wing. I've also seen hundreds of both spars and gosses owned by falconers over the years (I'm not a falconer BTW, never have been, though I was brought up surrounded by falconers, so to speak - sorry Spar!). As Michael and Spud suggest, it's legs are too thin for a gos, and I always think gosses, even males, have a squarer looking head than a spar, though I don't think this is mentioned in any bird book I've read, so maybe it's just me!
Michael's right about the Starling, very difficult bird to catch. I've seen spars give up on them many times because they were simply being outflown. When I was a child many falconers believed that hawks wouldn't eat starlings! Falconers can be strange people at times . . .
Pity we can't see the starling to get some comparison in size.
If you can, try downloading the pic and put it into Photoshop, then sharpen it as much as poss. using Unsharpen mask. The picture is far clearer.
Finally, I wonder why falconers call Sparrowhawks 'spars' and birders call them 'sprawks'? Spar is a far nicer name for such an athletic, noble bird IMO. please don't tell me the nickname for a gos is a gawk!!
saluki
, but I too would say it's a spar. I've had a few rescued spars when I was younger, one for around five years, and I picked an injured one up last year, which I gave to a friend. I see it on a weekly basis (that makes me sound like a divorced dad seeing the kids!) - she can't be released as she has a damaged wing. I've also seen hundreds of both spars and gosses owned by falconers over the years (I'm not a falconer BTW, never have been, though I was brought up surrounded by falconers, so to speak - sorry Spar!). As Michael and Spud suggest, it's legs are too thin for a gos, and I always think gosses, even males, have a squarer looking head than a spar, though I don't think this is mentioned in any bird book I've read, so maybe it's just me!Michael's right about the Starling, very difficult bird to catch. I've seen spars give up on them many times because they were simply being outflown. When I was a child many falconers believed that hawks wouldn't eat starlings! Falconers can be strange people at times . . .
Pity we can't see the starling to get some comparison in size.
If you can, try downloading the pic and put it into Photoshop, then sharpen it as much as poss. using Unsharpen mask. The picture is far clearer.
Finally, I wonder why falconers call Sparrowhawks 'spars' and birders call them 'sprawks'? Spar is a far nicer name for such an athletic, noble bird IMO. please don't tell me the nickname for a gos is a gawk!!
saluki
jeff
Well-known member
Well, nipped out to watch T3 and you've had a right old comment. The partner heard a squeal outside yesterday and saw the bird mantling it's prey so she rushed upstairs for the camera, the bird fed for a few minutes before a car drove down the road and disturbed it.
I though juv. sparrowhawk, but i'm still learning so though i'd double check with you guys.
The bird def. catching it's own prey, so has learnt quick if starlings are hard to catch, looks like it'll have a long and healthy life
They never turn up when i'm at home, always during the day when i'm working :-(
I can measure the stone behind the bird, if you were curious of the bird size.
I though juv. sparrowhawk, but i'm still learning so though i'd double check with you guys.
The bird def. catching it's own prey, so has learnt quick if starlings are hard to catch, looks like it'll have a long and healthy life
They never turn up when i'm at home, always during the day when i'm working :-(
I can measure the stone behind the bird, if you were curious of the bird size.
Michael Frankis
conehead
I sometimes call 'em Gosh-awks . . . just for fun
Oh, and also Sparro-whawks
Michael
Oh, and also Sparro-whawks
Michael
Great photograph! We regularly get sparrowhawks raiding the bird table! They seem to fly high over the houses until they see a likely prey & then swoop in over the fence and lawn.
My wife didn't believe me until she phoned me up and said there was a bird of prey eating a blue tit on the patio table (good table manners our Sparrowhawks).
Garden count so far ( over 4 years) is one bluetit, several juvenile blackbirds, one robin and at least two Collared Doves. We can always tell when they are around by the commotion the local Housemartins make.
Incidentally anyone else noticing a good year for raptors? Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Buzzaerds all seem to have done well locally this year.:t: :t:
My wife didn't believe me until she phoned me up and said there was a bird of prey eating a blue tit on the patio table (good table manners our Sparrowhawks).
Garden count so far ( over 4 years) is one bluetit, several juvenile blackbirds, one robin and at least two Collared Doves. We can always tell when they are around by the commotion the local Housemartins make.
Incidentally anyone else noticing a good year for raptors? Kestrels, Sparrowhawks and Buzzaerds all seem to have done well locally this year.:t: :t:
