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Sparrowhawk or Goshawk [Answered: sparrowhawk] Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, UK (1 Viewer)

andrewslack

Well-known member
I've spent ages reading through various ID guides and am still uncertain about this, just not confident. Assuming I'm not missing some other option, I realise sparrowhawk is more likely but something about the head/wing shape, the clear delineation from the darker upper head, and something about the unevenness of the barring on the secondaries makes me wonder, particularly about a second year goshawk. I would appreciate assistance, ideally with degree of confidence and reasoning! I couldn't really tell how far away it was - it seemed high gliding like a buzzard but it could have been smaller and lower. All the pigeons and jackdaws went berserk when it was flying overhead.

thanks in advance!

Andrew
 

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I'd say it is, it's parallel-sided and the end just goes straight across when in that state. Obviously when spread it looks different.

But people see thing a little differently sometimes.

John
Tails of flexibility….😉
 

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