Immature Accipiter nisus/gentilis NE.London? (1 Viewer)

Comments appreciated on this Immature bird taken September last year, I've lightened all five images to hopefully maximise on under-part detail.

Cheers

Juvenile Eurasian Sparrowhawk is my opinion.

Sparrowhawk for me too :t:

Skinny hips and narrow tail, Spar for me too.

Just out of interest, how does one reconcile skinny hips with the last image (contortionist springs to mind)....also the “projecting” head on image 2. and rounded tail...not classical Sprawk features? To my eye it looks odd...and I do get both albeit mostly Sprawk with Gos occasionally during the late fall/Winter. Unfortunately the light was very bright (mid-day) and it was quite high up....

Cheers

Can't believe you put this one up Ken. You have taken some absolutely stonking Gos shots at times, yet you thought there was a chance with this one, which is such a 'classic' Sparrowhawk!?

RB

Rotherbirder said:

Can't believe you put this one up Ken. You have taken some absolutely stonking Gos shots at times, yet you thought there was a chance with this one, which is such a 'classic' Sparrowhawk!?

RB

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It’s a funny old thing Rother, being exposed to Sprawks on an almost daily basis I find the only “classic” is the ability to alter shape, therein lies the challenge. Occasionally I have GREAT difficulty ascribing them to gender status, normally foreshortening away and leaving me undecided...and that’s with 37 years of experience with the species from window ledge to almost infinity...no arrogance there!

Thankfully the eyes are still sharp and with that, the one thing I’ve discovered with Accipiters is the ability to “contort” like no other, thus I always question the odd “shaped” bird and hopefully will always continue to do so.

As I hope my stills are instructive...and not just for me but to others also, that don’t have the exposure.
Virtually all the Gos that I’ve seen have been low down bulky buggers, just off the ground or at canopy height through the trees...a now you see it..and now you don’t....no prizes there!

The subject bird being somewhat aloft out of a very bright blue, looked to my eye a little odd, thus I kept it in abeyance for a “rainy day”....lest I forget thanks for the compliment R! coming from a youngster...it’s well appreciated. I did wonder If it would “spark” you to the table! Good to know that your still out there TTFN :t:

Ken,
nothing suggests anything other than a 'Spar' here mate, no idea why you think it looks odd.

andyadcock said:

Ken,
nothing suggests anything other than a 'Spar' here mate, no idea why you think it looks odd.

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Protruding head and rounded tail for starters, and fwiw I've found the odd not dissimilar shaped immature individual on the web labelled Northern Gos.

Andy, female Sprawks can appear long-tailed or shorter dependent on the posture as you know, unsure when they moult their tails as this might be an explanation for the rounded tail ends on this bird...appears not to be a 1st year...perhaps those better informed might be able to age it?

Cheers