It is a Harris Hawk, an American species. I think there's a place you can report lost falconers' birds, I'll just have a look...
ETA - found it. Click the 'report a lost/found/dead bird' link and it will bring up a form you fill in and submit, and hopefully its owner can be traced - http://www.independentbirdregister.co.uk/website/Lost%20&%20Found.html
As for feeding it, not sure you need to worry. Escaped Harris Hawks do seem to manage to hunt for themselves, several have been at large in the UK long-term. If it is really hungry it might actually approach you asking for food (as it will be used to being fed by humans) and then you could offer it some raw chicken perhaps.
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Hi sealou,
what a great photo, haven't a clue what it is but don't think I'd want that on my feeders! You can see it's ringed though.....don't worry someone will definitely identify it soon. Thanks for posting it........I'm assuming you don't get many sparrow in your garden! :-)
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Suelou, welcome to the forums
It looks like a Harris Hawk, but albeit my birding spans nearly 40 years I have been wrong on many an occasion.
I'm sure one of the Raptor experts will confirm what it is.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi Buzzard
I haven't known you for anywhere near to 40 years, but since I've known you, you have never been wrong on a bird identification.
If you say it's a Harris Hawk, then that would be good enough for me. :-)
aiki also says it's a Harris Hawk
ergo it's a Harris Hawk
Best wishes Chris
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Yep deffo a Harris Hawk, you can see it has had jessies on, but the leather straps that secure to the falconers hand looks like they are missing! is this correct? as if they were still attached the Hawk would get tangled up in branches and possible die!
A falconer nearby will no doubt have lost it, report it to your local police station, they may well have a report of its being missing.
Keep feeding it meantime, Chicken is ideal or rabbit lol, someone will collect it soon as you report it
Woodpecker said: Hi Buzzard I haven't known you for anywhere near to 40 years, but since I've known you, you have never been wrong on a bird identification. If you say it's a Harris Hawk, then that would be good enough for me. :-) aiki also says it's a Harris Hawk ergo it's a Harris Hawk
Thanks Chris, just the pick me up tonic required :-}
The bird is most likely to be a falconers as it has jesses on both legs, they tend to go awol from bird of prey centres or when falconers do public displays.
They see pigeons and off they go, we had one around the area for several days. A local falconer is paid by the council to disperse the pigeons. The pigeons get fed up of been disrupted so move on to another roost!
Suelou If you know who your county bird recorder is, then I would let them know!
thank you everyone for your prompt answers, its all reported now. but secretly i'll be sorry to see it go. but i doubt the other garden birds will be
I'm so envious. I wish it was hanging around in my garden while I was waiting for it's owner to turn up.
I would be out there with one of my Waitrose skinless and boneless chicken breasts :-)
Buzzard, you're welcome :-)
Yup That knocks spotts off havin sparrows in yer back garden for sure lol.
Amasing bird.
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Unknown said: Yup That knocks spotts off havin sparrows in yer back garden for sure lol.
Now Al, you know nothing knocks spots off having sparrows in your garden!!!!! LOL
Cheers, Linda.
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