Sparrowhawk or gooshawk? (1 Viewer)

Sparrowhawk or goshawk?

Seen in September at Chiemsee, Germany.

Looks like a goshawk to me, broader wings than a sparrowhawk.

Sparrowhawk for me.

Sparrowhawk.

RB

Sparrowhawk

Sprawk with a full crop for me:t:

Laurie -

Yes, juvenile Sparrowhawk, probably a male due to the streaked breast.

P.Sunesen said:

Yes, juvenile Sparrowhawk, probably a male due to the streaked breast.

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I think it’s worth pointing out to avoid confusion that choice of language/interpretation is important here imo - one does not usually refer to the bars as being ‘streaked’ on Sparrowhawk since ‘barring’ rather than ‘streaking’ is a useful separation criteria between juveniles of Goshawk (‘streaked’) and juveniles of Sparrowhawk (‘barred’ in all ages as this individual). The only ‘streaking’ in a true sense on juve Sparrowhawk is on the chin/neck sides. The upper breast marks of teardrops still are arranged in a bar-like pattern.

As far as sexing juvenile Sparrowhawk, how specifically are you arriving at ‘probably male’? The plumage is very very similar in both sexes at this age -perhaps slightly darker and more intense overall on females, especially ear coverts and chin but very difficult to judge - both have heart-shaped markings on upper breast.

(In the hand however, obviously wing length and tarsus length are longer in juvenile females)

agree with sparrowhawk