Adventurous Sparrow Hawk

[McCruiskeen]

No photographs, unfortunately, but my brother, who lives in Whitley Bay has just observed a female sparrow hawk carry out an attack on a herring gull. The gull apparently put up one hell of a fight, but gradually lost the battle. I know that female sparrow hawks will take prey of the size of blackbirds and collared doves, but a herring gull is somewhat robust and has an enormous bill with which to defend itself.

So, does any one have any knowledge of sparrow hawks taking prey of this size and type?

[aeshna5]

It certainly seems a very surprising prey item for a female Sparrowhawk. Wood Pigeons are regularly taken + Prof. Ian Newton's monograph on the species does mention occasional hen Pheasants, Red + Black Grouse having been taken, but no mention of gulls.

[leeroy]

I think its great to learn something every day !

I would have liked to have seen that, I had an encounter when a herring gull got tangled with my line & weight whilst fishing once, it was not for the feint hearted - also try eating your fish & chips out of the bag at the seaside...........

Just shows you what the sparrowhawk is capable of.

[Tringa]

Excellent record of an observation, but that is a sparrowhawk and half, I wouldn't like to have to try an dispatch a herring gull.

[McCruiskeen]

Just to add to the sighting, my brother reports that the sparrow hawk took the herring gull in flight and after a considerable mid-air struggle, landed with its capture. A lengthy battle ensued in parkland some 30/40 metres from his back garden. The event was observed with binoculars and my brother reports that even after having lost a wing, the herring gull was still putting up a robust defence. Mrs Sparrow Hawk eventually triumphed.

[RKB]

It does sound more like a Peregrine to me. Are you 100% sure of your brother's ID? Yearlings can be brownish and look a bit like a female Sparrowhawk.

[Red Squirrel]

I sat watching a sparrow hawk, from the kitchen window yesterday. There were 3 red squirrels feeding in the garden and one of them dashed up to the hawk and sent it packing.

I must say I was very surprised but shouldn't have been because they are plucky little creatures.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by RKB

It does sound more like a Peregrine to me. Are you 100% sure of your brother's ID? Yearlings can be brownish and look a bit like a female Sparrowhawk.

I thought that too when I first read OP's comment!

[McCruiskeen]

Panic over, folks!

My brother reports that it was his wife who had insisted that it was a gull that had been attacked by the sparrowhawk. Today he went to examine the remains and found that it had been a wood pigeon! He has watched the local sparrowhawk(s) taking, and eating, collared doves on many occasions and inisists this was a female sparrowhawk. It was a mid-air capture, however, with the prey putting up a spirited fight. I think this is where the size confusion has arisen. I think I'll buy him a British Birds book for christmas (and a voucher for a free eye test!)

No need to re-write the raptor books just yet!

Now, about this stoat I saw tackling a Frisian heifer...........

[wildherbalian85]

wood pigeon