Wildlife

Identify this Young sparrowhawk?

Young sparrowhawk?

Folkestone Claret 10/10/2023 10:55

Just had this visitor collide with patio door. Seemed lifeless but slowly came round and appears undamaged, flew off after 10 mins.

0 Cris 10/10/2023 11:08

Correct.
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0 Folkestone Claret 10/10/2023 11:42

Thx. I suggested it was a young bird because in the hand it seemed so much smaller than expected. But when it flew off the wingspan took it to a whole new dimension. I didn't get a bite but the talons are sharp!
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0 Linda257 10/10/2023 12:00 in reply to Folkestone Claret

You were lucky!!! Watched them many a time tear apart other birds in minutes...glad it's OK and off on its merry way again.....must have been nice to be so close to one ;-)

(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
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+1 Cris 10/10/2023 14:56 in reply to Folkestone Claret

That's a normal size for a sparrowhawk. The males in particular are only collard dove size. Yours is a juvenile, based on the shape of dark marks on the breast feathers, not the size.
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0 WendyBartter 10/10/2023 16:10

When I expanded the view I wondered if the lower beak had been damaged as it looked short & squared off at the end?

2013 photos & vids here

eff37 on Flickr
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0 Linda257 10/10/2023 16:46 in reply to WendyBartter

I think it's an optical illusion Wendy ;-)

Post edit.....I should have said its not meant to go in a point like the upper mandible but the photo does make it look more squared lol

(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
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0 WendyBartter 10/10/2023 17:12

I looked at some images on google and they showed a more rounded end, more fitting with the tongue shape!

2013 photos & vids here

eff37 on Flickr
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0 Linda257 10/10/2023 19:30 in reply to WendyBartter

Yeah that's what meant to say...just couldn't spit it out lol

(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
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