Sparrowhawk versus Peregrine (1 Viewer)

[Ian Bell]

I escaped from the mad Christmas shopping brigade and was standing waiting for my bus home.In a clear sky I noticed a large raptor flying over nearbye houses.Then all of a sudden it was being chased and harried by a smaller raptor.Judging by size and shape it looked like a Sparrowhawk chasing a Peregrine.Would this be possible ? Both species can be found in Aberdeen but would they come into combat ? I am well aware of the difference in size between male and female Sparrowhawk but the other bird was larger than a female Sparrowhawk and a different shape to the aggressor.

 

[dan pointon]

The wingtips on the Sparrowhawk would have been fairly rounded when it was gliding, and to me the flight always seems laborious. It the bird pursuing was larger, yet still fairly slim with long, pointed wings then it probably was a Peregrine. This sounds the most likely combination for the birds you saw.

 

[Ian Bell]

The wingtips on the Sparrowhawk would have been fairly rounded when it was gliding, and to me the flight always seems laborious. It the bird pursuing was larger, yet still fairly slim with long, pointed wings then it probably was a Peregrine. This sounds the most likely combination for the birds you saw.

Thanks Dwayne.Not the most likely pair of things to see while out Christmas shopping.Especially in a city with over 200,000 of a population,most of whom seemed to be shopping alongside myself..!

 

[RecoveringScot]

Thanks Dwayne.Not the most likely pair of things to see while out Christmas shopping.Especially in a city with over 200,000 of a population,most of whom seemed to be shopping alongside myself..!

I have often seen the Marischal College Peregrines hunting over the east of the city while waiting for the bus home in Union Street. Aberdeen is quite good for raptors generally - most of the smaller raptors on the British list have been seen over, in or from the city. I notice Buzzards are hunting the grass at the roadside edge near Hazlehead Cemetery on foot, during the morning rush-hour nowadays.

Cheers,

 

[dan pointon]

Thanks Dwayne.Not the most likely pair of things to see while out Christmas shopping.Especially in a city with over 200,000 of a population,most of whom seemed to be shopping alongside myself..!

Actually, you'd be surprised how many raptors do infact inhabit urban areas. Countrywide Peregrines can be found breeding on power stations, cathedrals and other tall buildings, and Sparrowhawks are now fairly common place to see circling over a town year round. Keep your eyes peeled next time you're out in the city, you could be surprised at the raptors you can see in towns and cities.

Cheers

 

[Max Radford]

A few years ago I went upto Derwentdale in North Derbyshire; whilst standing at Windy Corner, I spotted a sparrowhawk flying directly above me from right to left. A peregrine stooped from above and hit the sparrowhawk - which then landed on the ground about ten yards behind me. It was a goner. o

 

[Allen S. Moore]

I escaped from the mad Christmas shopping brigade and was standing waiting for my bus home.In a clear sky I noticed a large raptor flying over nearbye houses.Then all of a sudden it was being chased and harried by a smaller raptor.Judging by size and shape it looked like a Sparrowhawk chasing a Peregrine.Would this be possible ? Both species can be found in Aberdeen but would they come into combat ? I am well aware of the difference in size between male and female Sparrowhawk but the other bird was larger than a female Sparrowhawk and a different shape to the aggressor.

Others have pointed out that what you reported was indeed possible. It reminds me of the opposite situation that I watched on Peel Hill, a bracken covered ridge just outside the town of Peel here in the west of the Isle of Man one autumnday about 10 years ago.
A sparrowhawk was flying along the hillside and a peregrine, hanging in the air above, went into a stoop. As it approached the sparrowhawk, 2 choughs mobbed the peregrine and the sparrowhawk continued to safety. One of the choughs was briefly threatened by the falcon, but both choughs then disappeared over the ridge.

 

[Capercaillie71]

I have often seen the Marischal College Peregrines hunting over the east of the city while waiting for the bus home in Union Street.

Earlier this year I sat on the top of the St Nicholas Centre eating my M&S sandwiches watching two Peregrines flying around, landing on the spire of St Nicholas Kirk and calling loudly. The thing that amazed me was that everyone else doing their shopping was completely oblivious to them. I'm sure a lot of those people would have happily sat down and watched a tv documentary about Peregrines but are unaware of these spectacles on their own doorstep.

 

[RecoveringScot]

Earlier this year I sat on the top of the St Nicholas Centre eating my M&S sandwiches watching two Peregrines flying around, landing on the spire of St Nicholas Kirk and calling loudly. The thing that amazed me was that everyone else doing their shopping was completely oblivious to them. I'm sure a lot of those people would have happily sat down and watched a tv documentary about Peregrines but are unaware of these spectacles on their own doorstep.

I've seen them land on that steeple as well. The oddest sighting was of the female flying leisurely right down the centre of Union Street about thirty feet up, right over the heads of shoppers and not far above the tops of buses. One July night a Peregrine flew straight past my living-room window at eye-level at 21.30. I've seen them catch Pigeon several times - although the most unusual prey species so far recorded at the breeding site is Little Grebe, I believe.