Bird of Prey

[Neil Rigby]

Any ideas about this Pigeon killer a friend of mine took? See attached.

[MIKE THROWER]

Sparrowhawk ( juv) female

[Neil Rigby]

Thanks Mike.

I had similar thoughts although it does look pretty big so I bottled it!

[Duckie]

Hi, yes a female sparrowhawk.

[PeterB]

Are those feathers on it's back or white marks?

[MIKE THROWER]

White back feathers are very common on both sexes

[PeterB]

Ta, never noticed that before.

[Parus major]

Neil, my thoughts initially were also juv female sparrow hawk. You must have posted thinking it might be goshawk. If the pigeon is a woodie and not stock dove or feral pigeon the size indicates a large hawk. Your friend's pathway has helpful even bricks that can be measured and the bird is standing at a convenient angle. You, like me, may have had to write out Pythagoras theorem 100 times for some minor offence and so could calculate the size of this bird. In conclusion I think there is a significant chance this could be a goshawk.
Happy Xmas All
David

[aquila 1]

It is a female sparrowhawk, the barring on the tail is wrong for gentilis which there are more horisontal barring, also as said going by the scale of surronding bricks, it is to small for gentilis, but must admit in the field they can be difficult. best regards mac

[Parus major]

Originally Posted by aquila 1

It is a female sparrowhawk, the barring on the tail is wrong for gentilis which there are more horisontal barring, also as said going by the scale of surronding bricks, it is to small for gentilis, but must admit in the field they can be difficult. best regards mac

I think that's right but if it is a woodie its a klonker of a sparrowhawk