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

[andrewslack]

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

 

[RafaelMatias]

Female Sparrowhawk

 

[andrewslack]

Female Sparrowhawk

This is also my most likely choice, but could you help out with any definite ID features? thanks!

 

[Butty]

I would appreciate assistance, ideally with degree of confidence and reasoning!

N.B.

 

[Farnboro John]

Very square ended narrow tail, short head, general lack of bulk, short wings without significant secondary bulge all add up to Sparrowhawk, lack of colour beneath suggests a female.

John

 

[RafaelMatias]

This is also my most likely choice, but could you help out with any definite ID features? thanks!

General shape, tail shape, proportions all better for Sprawk; also well barred (regularly, contrastingly) inner secondaries and primaries, basally.

 

[andrewslack]

General shape, tail shape, proportions all better for Sprawk; also well barred inner secondaries and primaries, basally.

Great thanks. Accepted!

 

[Butty]

Very square ended . . . tail

This it surely is not - whatever the ID.

 

[Farnboro John]

This it surely is not - whatever the ID.

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

 

[Butty]

the end just goes straight across when in that state

Blimey.

people see thing a little differently sometimes

👍🏻

 

[KenM]

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….😉