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What bird is this please? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ruth4000
- Start date
Nina P
Nina
Don't get many chances like that to the pound, not surprised you snatched the opportunity, thus got a bit of wobble, better though than I could take, as the worlds worst photographer, you must do better than me at all times, but I do agree with Harry, Who would even consider arguing with him, a female sparrowhawk. Nina.
Darrell Clegg
Well-known member
Seb - you got it in one - size is the difference. Goshawks are HUGE!!! Even the smallest males will be bigger than the biggest female sparrowhawk.
You could also check the under-tail coverts. In Goshawk they are gleaming white and stand out at a distance. In some birds they seem to extend or 'wrap around' the rump, so that if you see them at a distance they bear a superficial resemblance to Hen Harrier. Goshawks are a much greyer bird than Sparrowhawk, and if you get a good view the supercillium is quite distinct.
Young birds have streaks on the breast wheras Sparrowhawk has barring at all ages.
In flight they seem to be much more leisurely than Sparrowhawk. There is not so much of the flap flap glide, its more of a flap glide glide glide flap. in the breeding season the male will soar up to a tremendous height, and then suddenly plummet, before gaining height and doing it all again.
Darrell
You could also check the under-tail coverts. In Goshawk they are gleaming white and stand out at a distance. In some birds they seem to extend or 'wrap around' the rump, so that if you see them at a distance they bear a superficial resemblance to Hen Harrier. Goshawks are a much greyer bird than Sparrowhawk, and if you get a good view the supercillium is quite distinct.
Young birds have streaks on the breast wheras Sparrowhawk has barring at all ages.
In flight they seem to be much more leisurely than Sparrowhawk. There is not so much of the flap flap glide, its more of a flap glide glide glide flap. in the breeding season the male will soar up to a tremendous height, and then suddenly plummet, before gaining height and doing it all again.
Darrell
hi Seb,
you have to be careful with the undertail coverts wrap round as displaying Spars can fluff out their undertail coverts!
But Gos definitely can have a Accipiter/Hen Harrier look to them. Gos also have more of a "hand" in the wing which can be swept back lending to the harrier look.
Mark
you have to be careful with the undertail coverts wrap round as displaying Spars can fluff out their undertail coverts!
But Gos definitely can have a Accipiter/Hen Harrier look to them. Gos also have more of a "hand" in the wing which can be swept back lending to the harrier look.
Mark
esmondb
The fool that MrT doesn't pity
seb_seb said:
As Darrell Clegg states, the supercilium is much more prominent on the Gos and may even be distinguished in flight, also in flight, where size is often hard to gauge, the more leisurely flight and rounded 'hips' (the undertail coverts appear larger and heavier on the goshawk) ID the larger hawk. On the ground the legs of the sparrowhawk appear long and skinny (like in Ruth's photo) - broad and powerful looking on the gos.
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