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Brian McGeough | all galleries >> british_birds >> birds_of_prey > sparrow hawk
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26-OCT-2004

sparrow hawk

swinfen hall

Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel
1/2000s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Phil Wilson 06-Feb-2005 23:49
Hello Brian,

I have started a thread on Birdforum on this bird.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=30964

The first time I saw it I thought that there was something not quite right for Sparrowhawk. I suggested that it might be a Goshawk, and although the discussion has just begun the majority so far have come down in favour of Goshawk.

Reasons in favour:

Prominent head wih dark cheeks (as in 1st adult Goshawk)
Coarse barring on upper chest
Inner rear wing too long for Sparrowhawk and general wing shape good for Goshawk.
Barring on underwing rather fine and overall smoky grey rather than sharp contrast
Tail rather shortish with rounded corners (which is Goshawk feature)
Overall silhouette more Goshawk-like
Bird appears rather too heavy in build for Sparrowhawk

However others may pitch in on this topic.

Cheers,

Phil