I was lucky enough to witness a Sparrowhawk make a kill in my garden today, but I can't tell if its male or female! I'm usually pretty good with ID, but I can't really see the colour on the back clearly. For a size comparison, the bird init's talons is a House Sparrow. Thanks!
Grey/brown rather than orange barring on the breast makes that a female.... Looks big enough too.
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Thank you! I've not seen a Sparrowhawk with those white markings on the head and wings/back before.. is this common?
hi Peregrine.
Birds of all species are notorious these days for becoming miscoloured ie white feathers creeping into their plumage - due to 'albino' colouration. I have to say I have not heard of it happening with BoP's though as such not to say they are affected a much as other birds.
It also might be the fact it is a still a young bird, not got its full adult plumage yet, and still finding its way around.
I am sure that someone will be along soon, and give their version of what they think it might be.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
PeregrineRhi said: Thank you! I've not seen a Sparrowhawk with those white markings on the head and wings/back before.. is this common?
I think its male, judging by the size of the house bricks behind it and the lack of stripe over the eye. The white patches are becoming quite common. The female usually takes bigger prey and the shading on the bars can vary but there is a touch of red showing. whatever its a nice shot!
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Thanks for the info! I wouldn't be suprised if it was a young bird, it seemed to struggle with plucking the Sparrow and didn't really look like it knew what it was doing... Although judging by the spine and pair of Sparrow feet left on the grass this morning, it eventually managed to eat its meal! I'll keep an eye out for it again, hopefully I'll be able to figure out it's gender then!
You have a point with the bricks but I don't find that eye stripe thing all that reliable. It doesn't look full adult so all the "nuances" have probably yet to appear.
Hi,
the bird shows a blue grey back indicating a male sparrowhawk - the underparts appear rufous tinged also pointing towards a male. I can see no brown tingeing above or juvenile feathers.
The white in the scapulars and on the nape are often seen on adult sprawks. :) The general build of the bird is male not a hefty female .
S
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Nicki C said: Birds of all species are notorious these days for becoming miscoloured ie white feathers creeping into their plumage - due to 'albino' colouration. I have to say I have not heard of it happening with BoP's though as such not to say they are affected a much as other birds.
It occurs in BoP too, I've seen photos of buzzards with patches of while and one that was almost totally white! There is a partially white buzzard not far from here someone was telling me about too and I believe there is/was a white buzzard somewhere around Fife or Perthshire.
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
white patches in sparrowhawk scapulars of both sexes are NOT unusual - :)) I see it in individuals quite often . However , I can't remember seeing random white feathers elsewhere in the plumage .
The pale nape patch is normally not seen in juveniles according to the literature.
I see sparrowhawks probably every 3 or 4 days .
:)
I agree that it would be an adult male with its slate-grey upper parts and reddish tinge down the side. Although the white spots on this individual are extremely prominent, I doubt that they are caused by albinism in this case. Many bird field guides show the white spots on adult sparrowhawks, and the arrangement of the spots on this bird do coincide with the recognised pattern. I often use the spots as a quick ID feature - if they are there, it is a sparrowhawk - if there are no spots and no rusty colour in the flanks, it may be worth having a second look just in case it is a goshawk.
We have kept records of all colour aberrant birds reported to us over the past couple of years. While unusual colourings feature in a wide range of taxonomic groups, we have only heard of four birds of prey. Two of those were sparrowhawks - one erythristic (rusty red colour overshadowing everything else) and the other leucistic (washed out feathering as opposed to white).