Bird in Millbrook east Cornwall eating freshly killed pigeon. About 18''tall. Grey back with fcouple white feathers on back, one on head. Allowed me to approach and sit 4ft away before resuming eating the pigeon. Carefully pulled out intestines and put them aside. Kept checking me out with piercing, evil looking yellow eyes. Front was white with black bars running from side to side. Thought it was Sparrowhawk initially but definantly white with black bars on front. Had fluffy, baggy legs and what looked red thin legs but after while looked more yellow once blood gone.
Can't identify it but what an honour for it to trust me to apprach and sit and watch(in the rain) About an hour before could say anything other than Wow, Cor.
Anyone help in identifying, looked like very small Goshawk?
Sounds like a female sparrowhawk to me. The yellow eyes and the white spots on the back and back of the head are diagnostic.
I bet you wish you had a camera with you!
From your description I am thinking Peregrine.
have a look here http://www.plym-peregrines.co.uk/
Not very far from Millbrook on the mud Lol
Pssst! Nudge nudge Wanna see some pictures Here
As Trochilus has said, it's almost certainly a Sparrowhawk. Take a look at this thread by Paul E which has some superb photos of a female Sparrowhawk eating a mouse. This may help you to identify it.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/t/10298.aspx
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Tony
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Trochilus said: Sounds like a female sparrowhawk to me. The yellow eyes and the white spots on the back and back of the head are diagnostic.
Still not sure as pidgeon was big for Sparrowhawk to catch
Hi Jellybean, welcome to the forum.
It is surprising what birds a female Sparrowhawk will take!
I would upload some photo's but the forum is playing up and the chances are they won't appear, have a look at my gallery it shows some photo's of a kill and gives a good example of the size of the prey!
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Thankyou, the eyes of the bird in the link and having killed a pidgeon does it for me! Shame about the pigeon, magpies now clearing up.,
Buzzard said: Hi Jellybean, welcome to the forum. It is surprising what birds a female Sparrowhawk will take! I would upload some photo's but the forum is playing up and the chances are they won't appear, have a look at my gallery it shows some photo's of a kill and gives a good example of the size of the prey! Regards Buzzard
Thankyou I will go have look. Truth is though at end of day was moment will treasure forever. Kept moving forward till started eating again then edged further till as close as dared and sat down to watch.
a female sparrowhawk will quite happily take a pigeon (not sure happily is the right word....?) whereas the smaller male probably would struggle. Blackbirds would be around the size of their largest prey....
Peregrines don't have the striking eyes you describe either - compare the two here - http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/peregrine/index.aspx
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/s/sparrowhawk/index.aspx
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Hi jellybean.That sounds like an amazing experiance. Although I'm sure the pigeon wasn't too thrilled. From the description (especially the eyes) and size of pray; I'm pretty much agreeing with people who say it was a female sparrowhawk. I read recently that female sparrowhawks are about double the size of the male. I knew the female were bigger but was surprised there was so much of a difference. Fascinating and beautiful birds of prey.Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Hi,
yup the biggest pigeon a male sparrowhawk will take would be collared dove :)
S
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