A friend took this photo in his garden and asked me if I knew what it was. I said it was possibly a young a female sparrowhawk. Is it and why is fluffed up?
Hello Chardon and welcome to the forum. Brilliant photo. It certainly looks like a juvenile sparrowhawk but hopefully someone more knowledgeable about BsOP will be able to definitely I.D. it for you (I only have the RSPB Pocket Guide).
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Yup, sparrowhawk and lovely photo too!
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Wow! Gorgeous shot of a sparrowhawk! Usually they fluff up to keep warm... was it a wet day?
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Squirrel B said: Hello Chardon and welcome to the forum. Brilliant photo. It certainly looks like a juvenile sparrowhawk but hopefully someone more knowledgeable about BsOP will be able to definitely I.D. it for you (I only have the RSPB Pocket Guide).
Hello Chardon, excellent photo of a young Sparrowhawk.
There is a number of reasons why birds puff out their feathers, this particular shot looks as though it is raining or has been?
So this bird is keeping warm:
It makes an ambient air cushion within the fluffed out feathers and helps to keep them warm. This keeps the body heat trapped in.
The other reasons a bird fluffs or puffs out its feathers are to make themselves look bigger if they feel threatened, to keep themselves warm if they feel cold, they also do it if they're sick or injured or when they are happy and comfortable.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Buzzard said: "So this bird is keeping warm: It makes an ambient air cushion within the fluffed out feathers and helps to keep them warm. This keeps the body heat trapped in..."
"So this bird is keeping warm:
It makes an ambient air cushion within the fluffed out feathers and helps to keep them warm. This keeps the body heat trapped in..."
A natural duvet, indeed!
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]
Hi Chardon,
Welcome!
Lovely photo - I do envy your friend to see one so up close, normally I just see a fleeting glimpse as it swoops through the garden!
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Chardon. Welcome to the forum.That's a lovely picture of a sparrow hawk.Paul
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