What is this bird - sparrowhawk?

Mand7892 10/01/2021 13:50

Hi, new to the community, good to meet everyone. Could you help settle a little neighbourly debate here? Picture taken in neighbours garden, SE UK, we think it's a sparrow hawk (possibly female?) and others have suggested perigrine falcon or goshawk?

Thanks :)

Nigel O 10/01/2021 14:52

Sparrowhawk for me. It doesn't have the marked moustache of a Peregrine (which are anyway less likely to end up in a garden) and a Goshawk really would be exceptionally rare in a garden whereas Sparrowhawks are frequent garden visitors (assume the obvious unless you have evidence to support the unexpected).
Cancel
Like 0

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Mand7892 10/01/2021 15:16 in reply to Nigel O

Thank you Nigel.
Cancel
Like 0

Sign in to reply

Cancel
seymouraves 10/01/2021 15:51

Hi

a standard housebrick is about 2 and 3/4 inches deep so your bird is about 11 - 12 inches long in that photo:)

A Sparrowhawk is 11-15 inches long , a Peregrine is 15-18 inches long and a Goshawk is 22-26 inches long.

;)

S
Cancel
Like 0

Sign in to reply

Cancel
Mand7892 10/01/2021 19:40

Very observant and good thinking :) Thank you.

A
Cancel
Like 0

Sign in to reply

Cancel