Would a Sparrowhawk ever take a Woodpecker

Hi Sparrow, 

I too don't think a Sparrowhawk or a Magpie would be able to harm your tortoises.  I'd imagine them to be far too heavy to begin with...and I'm also incline to agree with John, they may not even be recognised as prey.

How long have you had them?  Has anything ever shown an interest in them before?

I'd imagine a cheeky sparrow hopping about  on their backs but that's about it :o)

Hi sparrow im glad to see some one esle with a tortoise, ive got a med spurr thighed hes only three years old soi still rather small and i would hate for anything to happen to him hes part of the family. How about you what species do you have and how old?

We do have a very inquisitive robin that hops behind him and is always watchin him from the washing line lol

Here he is his name is steve!!

Hi Owain,

I'm so glad to meet someone else with a tortoise!!! Fabulous photo Owain of a wonderful pet.

I have revived an old thread I stated ages ago about mine and you can tell me about him on there if you want.

Hi guys, I just registered as I was looking up on google for precedents of Green Woodpeckers being attacked by a Sparrow-hawk-sized bird.

In my garden I'm lucky enough to have Black Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted and Wry-neck as regular visitors. According to my neighbour we've even had Grey Headed and Middle Spotted as rare visitors!

Anyway, just a few minutes ago I witnessed one of our regular Green Woodpeckers (busy eating in the grass) being attacked by what I think was either a Hobby or a Sparrow-hawk. Not sure which as it all happened so fast. Either I scared it off, or it realised the woodpecker was too much of a fight, as they both flew off after a few seconds!!

I live in France in case you were wondering :-)

Hi Willj

In answer to your question - it most certainly would. In fact a Sparrowhawk will take prey up to the size of a Woodpigeon. You might like to see this article where a Great Spotted Woodpecker evaded becoming supper by keeping absolutely still. It's a bit of a classic.

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8199286.Artist_captures_woodpecker_s_great_escape/

It won't have been a Hobby that you saw. Their main prey is dragonflies although they will take Swallows, Martins and Swifts if they can catch them.

If you take photos we would love to see some of the birds that you see in your garden.

Cheers guys, for now I don't have too many photos, only from in my hammock, some great tits had a nest in one of the two trees that holds it up, quite good fun, the female didn't mind me being there at all, the male a bit more unsure at first but quickly got used to me!

I really can't see a Hobby having a go at a Green Woodpecker.  Hobbies evolved as high speed high agility aerial hunters and avoid anything too heavy. I had a garden Wryneck just the once in France, Made my summer......

JBNTS

As JohnB says it is doubtful if a Hobby would take  Woodpeck it has a totally wrong hunting style.A Sparrowhawk however will certainly be capable of taking one.I my 50 odd years of birding I have only seen it happen three times with a Great Spotted Woodpecker but a female Sparrowhawk would easily tackle a Green 'pecker.they are quite a powerful bird.

When we were looking at siting a woodpecker box the chap helping us asked if we had Sparrowhawks because the female will take a lesser spotted.

Caroline in Jersey