Remains of a bird for ID

[BarbaraEmma]

When I was out walking yesterday I came across this upsetting little thing.There didn't seem to be any signs of a struggle anywhere near,so what does anyone think happened here?Barbara

[Kayleigh]

I think it might be a sparrohawk..

[The Woodman]

It looks like a Sparrowhawk has met it's end there unfortunately.

[BarbaraEmma]

I thought it might have been a SparrowHawk,I've seen one flying over my garden lately and the woodland where I found this poor thing is very close by.It really upset me ,I can't help wondering if it might have been shot,it was in the middle of a path leading down towards a housing estate.Sadly not everybody loves birds of prey.Thanks for the replies Kayleigh and Woodman.Barbara

[The Woodman]

Over the years I've come across three dead Sparrowhawks, two on tracks and one on a country road.

The road death may have been attributable to a car strike, the strange thing was that it's mate was sitting on the road next to the dead body as if grieving for his mate.

I think the Sparrowhawk has a high risk hunting strategy. The last one I found was on a grass track and was not marked externally. One of its talons was grasping a tuft of grass and I can only imagine that it had misjudged a strike.

A male regularly hurtles up my drive from behind the garage to ambush the bird feeder in the crab apple tree on the front lawn. He flies about a foot off the ground and I've thought that one day I might just be walking around the garage and he will not be able to take evasive action.

Fortunately the plucking post is on a round finial at the top of my opposite neighbours trellis so a good view is virtually guaranteed.

I like the way it does a little jump to launch itself into a very fast glide without flapping its wings once and off down the close just above ground level, turning with such speed and accuracy into another drive.

[BarbaraEmma]

Oh I see,so the one I found could have just misjudged it's strike and hit the ground . I'd prefer to think that than that anyone was responsible.
Woodman ,you are so lucky to have a sparrowhawk visiting your garden,we saw one overhead today and 2 buzzards but they stay away from the gardens and stick to the surrounding fields and hills.Thanks Barbara

[richnfamous]

Originally Posted by BarbaraEmma

There didn't seem to be any signs of a struggle anywhere near,so what does anyone think happened here?Barbara

It's hard to say what killed it: but I don't think life is easy for juvenile hawks, as hunting is difficult and takes time to learn. It might have been a poor hunter that simply got too weak, or an inexperienced bird that struck a branch or suchlike. Judging from the pic I'd say that Foxy has eaten him.

I found the carcass of a juvenile Peregrine on the beach near West Bay in Dorset a month or so ago. It's only natural that predators die too when prey is scarce.