Goshawk? - Croatia (1 Viewer)

[Sitta]

Hi,

Is this Goshawk?

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'd say it's a female Sparrowhawk.

 

[Nutcracker]

Agree Sparrowhawk; a heavily marked juvenile.

 

[FormerMemberfor15years]

Agree Sparrowhawk; a heavily marked juvenile.

Yep, juvie Sparrowhawk indeed !

 

[Sitta]

Thank you.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Yep, juvie Sparrowhawk indeed !

I did have to look closely, it seems to show a mesial stripe but it must just be an effect of the light and angles?

 

[Tib78]

A juv Levant, which is indeed much more easily confused for a Goshawk on shape compared to sparrowhawk.

 

[CARERY]

Agree with Levant Sparrowhawk. But it can't be a juvenile when moulting the remiges, can it? Should be a 2nd year bird, no?

 

[tconzemi]

Agree with Levant Sparrowhawk. But it can't be a juvenile when moulting the remiges, can it? Should be a 2nd year bird, no?

breast seems barred with a few juvenile feathers left, so 2nd cy seems correct

 

[FormerMemberfor15years]

I forgot Levant as a possibility, but a second look, I totally agree on 2cy Levant

 

[Nutcracker]

I forgot Levant as a possibility, but a second look, I totally agree on 2cy Levant

Me too . . . (o)<

 

[Tib78]

Well a date would help and solve this but I don’t see why it should be a 2cy. In any case this bird does not fit a 2cy bird in September as it should look more much adult-like overall .
This type of messy underparts pattern with a mix of coarse bars and tear-drops isn’t particularly unusual in 1cy Levant and I am not sure it necessarily indicates a bird that has initiated its first moult.
The «moult» actually looks more like an anarchical growth of the primaries, as a 2cy that has replaced it’s inner primaries would have already moulted its head. Thus there shouldn’t be any supercilium, the head should be greyer and the largely brown neck would have gone missing. Also the moult contrast between older and fresh feather should be much more evident (I can’t se any here!).

 

[Sitta]

Levant is out of question. Photo was taken 27th May at altitude of 1500m above sea level in Dinaric Alps.
Levant is migratory and it arrives around end of April and can be found in lowlands around river streams.

 

[FormerMemberfor15years]

Some members here, whatever with harriers or sparrowhawks, like to see juveniles on individuals showing some moult, that's funny. Juvenile is a bird that have not yet moulted, that's the definition...

 

[Tib78]

Levant is out of question.

Hmmm...not really no! It’s definitely a Levant. And now that we know the date, it’s indeed a 2cy bird.

 

[Nutcracker]

A 2cy presumably wouldn't be breeding yet, so could easily cross high ground while moving around looking for somewhere it liked for next year?