Sparrowhawk? (West Midlands, England) (1 Viewer)

[Matt Griffiths]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could help a somewhat inexperienced birdwatcher confirm the identification of the raptors in the photos below, please. They were featured in my local newspaper, but the photographers were unsure what they were. Both were seen in the same town. It was thought that the bird in the first pic was possibly a Sparrowhawk or a Kestrel; whilst the photographer of the bird in the second pic thought it "definitely had all the correct markings" for a Peregrine Falcon! However, I think they're both Sparrowhawks. Could anyone say if they are or aren't?
Kind regards,

Matt

P.S. the photographer of the second pic thought that the "falcon" might also be an escapee, as it seemed quite tame and did'nt fly off as soon as it saw the photographer, though the photographer's husband had removed a partially eaten pigeon from their garden early that day.

 

[The Raptor]

Yes, both sparrowhawks, the second pic being a juvenile female.

ROD.

 

[KayD]

Agreed both Sparrowhawks - If only the paper had though of doing this before publishing the pics :-O. Wasn't the evening mail was it?

 

[Blaumeise]

Hello,
whilst the photographer of the bird in the second pic thought it "definitely had all the correct markings" for a Peregrine Falcon!

That reminds me.... I recently bought "The Peregrine" by J.A. Baker from the New York Review of Books' moving sale and the cover likewise shows an accipter, not a peregrine:

http://www.nybooks.com/shop/product-file/95/thep4495/product.jpg

 

[aikidoka]

I saw that book a couple of years ago. I think the cover shows a red-tailed hawk (and if I remember rightly it's credited as such inside). Why the publishers chose to do this... who knows!

 

[Matt Griffiths]

Thanks people for the confirmation. Hello again kstar, it was the Solihull News.

Matt