Bird of prey - please help ID falcon, kills pigeon

[dlisb]

Can anyone tell me what this bird of prey is?

Location, Kent suburban garden, falcon with leftovers of pigeon. Am am utter amateur, sparrowhawk (too big?) Peregrine (no moustache?). Is not my pic but I promised to help identify it.

[Veracocha]

I'll go with Sparrowhawk

[thebeard]

seconded

[Ferret]

Agree - its a female Sparrowhawk

Ferret

[dlisb]

Thanks all - and for being kind to a newbie. Sparrowhawk seems to be the answer. In mitigation, I live in Norfolk - and am more used to identifying Marsh Harriers!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Ferret

Agree - its a female Sparrowhawk

Ferret

with that blue grey back and buff wash to it's front I'd say it's a male Sprawk.

Cheers,

Adam

[Dan Salter]

Agreed....a wonderful Female Sparrowhawk doing what they do....

[werdnal]

Having been on the receiving end of peregrine and sparrowhawk attacks on our pet pigeons, I'd say thats definately a SH.

They tend to land and pluck/eat their prey on the ground, whereas, from our experience, a peregrine will stun it on the wing, and if it cannot snatch it out of the air, will follow it to ground and then carry away to a perch or somewhere less open to eat in private.

[thebeard]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

with that blue grey back and buff wash to it's front I'd say it's a male Sprawk.

Cheers,

Adam

i'd have to agree there too, male.

[Dan Salter]

Doh!....