Bird of Prey in Suburbia

Hello,

The most likely culprit is a Sparrowhawk - this raptor is now common even in quite built-up areas and is a frequent garden visitor. A female could tackle a Woodpigeon - males are smaller and take smaller prey accordingly.

Hi Rachel and welcome to RSPB Community

Not a Kestrel I'd have thought. These are predators of open grassland/farmland and tend to stick to voles, invertebrates, and occasionally birds up to House Sparrow size.

Your visitor was almost certainly a Sparrowhawk, very probably female as a Wood Pigeon is a big ask for the smaller male. Sparrowhawks are woodland birds that are adapting readily to a suburban lifestyle with all the rewards it can bring. Bird brains are apparently delicious and nutritious to avian predators so your lady Sparrowhawk clearly decided to go for the good stuff first.

All perfectly natural and having a top predator in your garden is a fair indication that your local environment is in reasonably good health.

JBNTS

Aiki's beaten me to it again - female sparrowhawk most likely culprit.

Occasionally a kestrel will take a small bird if it can (on the ground), but it would have to be pretty hungry because it's harder work than its usual diet (small mammals, beetles etc).

I actually saw a kestrel drop in after a bird in the back garden of my previous home. Yes, it definitely was a kestrel! There was a large cloud of dust as the flock scattered, pronto!

Cheers,

Andy

Hi Rachel welcome to the forum.

A Kestrel would be quite unlikely to be in a suburban garden. I would also be very surprised that it would have killed a Wood Pigeon!

However a Female Sparrowhawk could, Kestrels will take small birds sparrows, finches etc but thier main diet is voles, mice, beetles, earth worms etc. I have never heard of them eating carrion so again this would rule them out.

Have you correctly identified the kill, even a Female Sparrowhawk may struggle with a Woodpigeon.  They will take feral pigeons, stock doves, collared doves etc. The male Sparrowhawk is quite small only 11" he will take birds upto the size of a thrush.

Anyway I hope I have helped, if the BOP returns try and get a photo.

Regards Buzzard

Thanks everyone!  Yes, have checked out description of a sparrowhawk and it seems to fit.    We seem to have an endless supply of pigeons hereabouts so hopefully the Sparrowhawk will stay around.  I wonder if they are partial to gulls...?

 

Hi Rachel,

Although in this case it was more likely a sparrowhawk, don't discount seeing a kestrel just because you're in suburbia. Keep your eyes peeled - I was living in SE London suburbs when that story of mine took place. Although I believe kestrel numbers are in decline again, they try to make a living almost anywhere.

Happy birding!

Andy

Hi Rachel

A sparrowhawk is one of the best birds to keep the pigeons at bay, The only problem being the also keep every other small bird out of sight.

Robert

Hi Everyone
I have come across this thread when looking for something else about kestrels but having read the posts feel compelled to share observations. I witnessed a kestrel killing a pigeon (well strictly a dove) in our front garden. It was definitely a kestrel. I don't think there is any way you could mistake a sparrowhawk for a kestrel especially not when they're on the ground. And added to that we are very familiar with them as they live in the church tower behind our house, while the doves live on the farm across the road.