sparrowhawk/goshawk help please (Norfolk, England) (1 Viewer)

M

Mike in Cumbria

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #1

Not my photo, but some help with this id would be great, with reasons.

Norfolk, earlier this year. Thanks in advance.

 

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C

Cinereous

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #2

Looks like the most Goshawk looking Sparrowhawk I've ever seen.. Spindly legs and the toes look too long for a Gos..

 

Last edited: Dec 19, 2017

M

Mike in Cumbria

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #3

Cinereous said:

Looks like the most Goshawk looking Sparrowhawk I've ever seen.. Spindly legs and the toes look too long for a Gos..

Click to expand...

Thank you, that's interesting. My first thoughts on seeing the facial markings were goshawk, but the body looks just too skinny doesn't it?

 

nbalblas

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #4

Indeed a Sparrowhawk, but a peculiar one.

 

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mark clements

New member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #5

I would say Sparrowhawk.
Goshawks weigh in much bigger thn sparrowhawks, and look more like a sparrowhawk on steroids to me. This looks thinner, and the legs in particular look thinner than I would expect on a goshawk.
Its certainly atypical in appearance though (but many sparrowhawks are)

 

P

P.Sunesen

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #6

There's nothing unusual to this adult female Sparrowhawk.

Peter

 

nbalblas

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #7

Well, I have never seen a Sparrowhawk with such an eyebrow in Holland..

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Dec 19, 2017

• #8

nbalblas said:

Well, I have never seen a Sparrowhawk with such an eyebrow in Holland..

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Nor me, it also looks almost, black and white


A

 

M

mark clements

New member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #9

P.Sunesen said:

There's nothing unusual to this adult female Sparrowhawk.

Peter

Click to expand...

Hi Peter
Is it normal, in Denmark for such striking facials on a sparrowhawk, as its not something I would normally expect to see? And I have never been birding in Denmark.
Thank you
Harry

 

Biancone

to err is human

• Dec 19, 2017

• #10

Agree with Peter. If the supercilium looks unusually prominent I think that's mainly because the image is too contrasty and a bit over-exposed.
Brian

 

C

Cinereous

Well-known member

• Dec 19, 2017

• #11

It could well be a photoshop problem in order to get more detail.. The eyes are very pale and lack the usual colour. Probably accounts for the lack of colour in the body too...

 

ChrisKten

It's true, I quite like Pigeons

• Dec 20, 2017

• #12

Agree with Peter and Brian... nothing unusual about this adult female Sparrowhawk, and I see Sparrowhawks at close range almost daily.

Only thing that is unusual are the colours and exposure of the photograph.

 

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Mike in Cumbria

Well-known member

• Dec 21, 2017

• #13

Thanks everyone - very helpful confirmation.