Help Identify a Killer!

[merlinsboy]

Hello Bird fans!
Can anyone help identify a killer that committed a vile crime in our garden 2 days ago. My wife saw a bird at about 35 feet distance. It was tucking into a small sparrow! Looking at the leftovers it seems the capture and banquet was in the same place.
My wife describes the bird as follows.
"One and half times the size of a Blackbird, slender, darkish brown, long tail feathers one of which was hanging on the ground. Did not have a hooked beak. It had bright white irregular spots (possibly on wings) near its rear and possibly white underside."
The weather was particularly foul at the time and raining heavily.
We have looked at several pictures of raptors but she has not been able to pick one out.
My first instinct is a Sparrowhawk. We live in Cheshunt, Herts. I have not seen a bird of prey in theneighbourhood before.
Any thoughts?
Merlinsboy.

[GuyF]

Almost certainly a female sparrowhawk, they often exploit garden feeders.
GuyF

[Nick Robinson]

Probably a cat...

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Sparrowhawk the BEST bird in britain

[ianrose82]

I would go with Sparrowhawk too...there are quite a few of them in the Lee Valley - not too far from Cheshunt!

[aeshna5]

I would go for Sparrowhawk too. There are actually a lot of raptors near you- when I go to Fishers Green/ Hall Marsh I get train to Cheshunt Station + have seen Kestrel, Hobby + sparrowhawk over station + Peregrine + Buzzard are both quite regular within couple of miles of you!

[nightshade]

Sparrowhawks are gaining ground so it seems likely

[merlinsboy]

Many thanx for replies. I will try and find some more pics of female sparrowhawks to convince wifey!
She is definite its not a cat though, Nick!
Merlinsboy.
"The purpose of ideas is to challenge orthodoxies."

[Mo.]

Originally Posted by Nick Robinson

Probably a cat...

Good to know the sparrowhawks are thriving !! This means that their food supply is too!

Mo.