Immature female sparrowhawk ? (1 Viewer)

[COLG]

Could anyone please tell me if this is an immature female sparrowhawk ?

 

[lou salomon]

i'd call it an adult female. no immaturity signs - at least a 3cy bird.

 

[OlaB]

Definitely a 2cy bird. This rufous heart shaped pattern seems to be more common on males but females can also look like this. Size is really the only certain feature (which can be hard enough to determine).

 

[ChrisKten]

I agree with Ola, looks like a 2cy bird, and I'd guess female. But without any idea of size, it's only guessing the gender.

Sparrowhawks (all BsOP) don't moult to adult plumage until their second year, and without the classic adult plumage, are very difficult to sex from pictures.

 

[Zebs]

According to this book i have, It's Female as looking at the pictures the male does not have the white stripe above the eye...

 

[ChrisKten]

According to this book i have, It's Female as looking at the pictures the male does not have the white stripe above the eye...

Males do also have the supercilium (white stripe) before they have full adult plumage. And some females only have a faint supercilium.

Have a read of this, if you have an hour or so to spare|=)|:

http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/118_SparrowhawkAnisus.pdf

 

[Zebs]

Thanks Chris i'm still learning, So only going by the pictures.