Accipiter HK (1 Viewer)

[earlytorise]

Photographed 6 November 2021

Is there enough in this photo to 100% confirm Eurasian Sparrowhawk?

Grateful for reasons why.

By the way, its left wing (left-hand side from its perspective, on the right on the photo) has six fingers, though blurry.

I will post a separate question on the raptor part of the forum, using the same photo. It asks which species of accipiter around the world are most similar to Eurasian Sparrowhawk and whether or not this photo alone can rule them out. You can also answer this here if you want.

Cheers!

 

[Bewick]

HK, Hong Kong?

I've spent quite a while editing the image in various ways in an attempt to assess whether the sixth primary on the birds left wing is visible primary or not and agree that it is. After looking at both wings and comparing hands and finger placements I came to the same conclusion as you that two fingers are blurred rather than one. I think this is image is identifiable as a eurasian sparrowhawk.

The Chinese sparrowhawk is certainly not an option and I believe the sixth primary also rules out the Japanese sparrowhawk- the structure of the bird also seems better for a Eurasian sparrowhawk, a long tail in contrast to the Japanese Sparrowhawks short tail.