Hi there
After my walk about Marston Vale a couple of weeks ago, I saw activity form a Sparrowhawk trying to chase a Green Woodpecker. The Green Woodpecker produced a loud alarm call and fled for its life.
Would a Sparrowhawk ever take on food source like a Green or Great Spotted Woodpecker at all,,, or are the birds to large to attack?
Just interested
Regards
Kathy and Dave
i cant see why not, i suppose that woodpeckers are risky prey due to their strong beaks but sparrowhawks often take down large prey such as colloard doves, as happened in my garden a couple of weeks ago.
Maybe he was very hungry and it was worth the risk??
I'm not sure a male sparrowhawk would go for a woodpecker but I could imagine the much larger female attempting such a hunt. Bit risky in my opinion, as from what I've seen, woodpeckers (at least the great-spotted variety) can have a quite aggressive side. Plus there's the very powerful woodpecker beak to consider.
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Given that the big, heavy woodpigeon is a favourite prey species, I think both the common woodpecker species are well within the prey size range for sparrowhawks - especially for a female sparrowhawk, which is up to a third bigger than the male. I once collected a few greater spotted tail and wing feathers from a 'kill site' in the woods where I used to live, which were almost certainly down to a sparrowhawk.
Like most predators, sparrowhawks are opportunists and though woodpeckers probably aren't common targets, if one was not sufficiently alert it would definitely be at risk!
Hi
A Female Sparrowhawk will easyly take a woodpecker I have seen them take pigeons out the back of my house here and just a couple of weeks ago I saw one take a gray Squrrel about 20 or 30 feet in front of me .
It is one of the most amasing things I have ever seen.
She had a bit of a scrap with it but she won in the end.
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Hi Kathy
I don't see why a sparrowhawk couldn't take a GSW or a green woodpecker, especially a female sparrowhawk.
Sparrowhawks have to be oppurtunists and take whatever they can get. My bet is that they take the easiest option they can. Any young and inexperienced bird would probably be their first choice in a flock of birds.
I have plenty of spare pigeons here. If only I could attract a female sparrowhawk to visit regularly.
My magpie is now chasing my group of starlings every day when they all come to the mealworm feeder together and argue noisily. The way the magpie swoops through them, it's clear that it is trying to find a weakness or to elicit a mistake possibly from a younger bird. If one flew into something and fell, or if two crashed together, I'm sure the magpie would be onto that very quickly. It's probably only a matter of time before it catches one.
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Kathy,
I would say a female Sparrowhawk could take a Woodpecker, they have size to their advantage and if they're skillful I should imagine would succeed.
Like everyone has said Sparrowhawks are opportunistic but if the time is right I shouldn't see why not.
Al's Squirrel story has surprised me though - that must have been a desperate bird!
Please reassure me, someone. Anyone.
I am terrified a sparrowhawk will attempt to take my tortoises. I know I have mentioned this previously, but then I didn't know they would take a squirrel. Tortoises aren't very large, have a hard shell and scaled legs, but have a very soft throat area. When they are sunbathing they lie with their heads and legs extended as far as they can. They are, I suppose, fairly heavy and cumbersome, but also slow and not aware of predators. I can't protect them with netting or similar and am now getting paranoid!!
I am also a bit worried a magpie might try. I don't get them landing in my garden but they fly over.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Sparrow
I don't think that a sparrowhawk or a magpie would attempt to take a tortoise. It's not just the size and weight of them when it comes to selection of prey, but the fact that tortoises are so much more difficult to attack because of their hard shells. The fact that they can withdraw themselves into their shells is also a great defence, because there would be no way for the bird to get a claw hold or a beak into that shell, and birds can't afford to be at risk on the ground while trying and failing to tussle with a hard shell for any length of time. I'm sure that the soft throat area wouldn't be on show for very long if a bird swooped down to try to take a tortoise.
I wouldn't worry about your tortoises too much. There is so much easy prey around compared with them that they would probably be the last items on the menu.
I think they're pretty safe. Sparrowhawks are dash and bash specialist bird predators 98% of the time. I doubt if they'd even associate a tortoise with food. The other 2% of the diet is made up of mammals up to small rabbit size.
Magpies are more innovative but I'm not aware of any records of them predating on tortoises.
Susan H said: Please reassure me, someone. Anyone. I am terrified a sparrowhawk will attempt to take my tortoises. I know I have mentioned this previously, but then I didn't know they would take a squirrel. Tortoises aren't very large, have a hard shell and scaled legs, but have a very soft throat area. When they are sunbathing they lie with their heads and legs extended as far as they can. They are, I suppose, fairly heavy and cumbersome, but also slow and not aware of predators. I can't protect them with netting or similar and am now getting paranoid!! I am also a bit worried a magpie might try. I don't get them landing in my garden but they fly over.
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Thank you Chris and John,
I feel a bit more reassured, but can't help worrying.