Sparrowhawk or Goshawk?

[jmack]

I think I can guess the answer to this one but I live in hope! Thought it looked quite big and bulky for a sparrowhawk. Taken in a conifer wood in the Clyde Valley in April this year. There was a pair of them making a lot of noise as I passed close to their nest. Quickly retreated when I noticed the nest so this was the only photo I managed.

[susy]

looking at the colouring of the wings, and chunky, large apearance of the bird, I would say goshawk, so well done, lucky find..

[Picidae]

It's a female Sparrowhawk I'm afraid. The coarse brown barring with uneven spotting on upper breast rules out Gos as does structure. Adult Gos have fine greyish streaks and breast is much whiter with more distinct head pattern and they are much fuller in the lower belly and broader in chest. (Immature Gos have streaked bellies/breasts albeit browner). Head is smaller on Gos compared to body and tarsus are thicker than Sparrowhawk. Perhaps not a fully mature female but still of breeding age (3cy?) but female Sprawk regardless (they can vary with regard to amount of 'rufous' and head patterns can be quite indistinct).

[poacher113]

i would put my money on goshawk,looks far too big for a sparrow hawk.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by poacher113

i would put my money on goshawk,looks far too big for a sparrow hawk.

Compared against what? You have no reference points.

Looks like a juvenile Sparrowhawk to me. It's not an adult Gos due to the brownish barring on the chest/belly (juv Gos is streaked not barred, adult Gos is finely barred dark on a pure white background). Ans a big clue is the tarsi - much too long and thin for Gos, and just right for 'knitting needle' Sparrowhawk.

[Blizzard]

I'm in the Sparrowhawk camp too.

[Lance Morgan]

Sprawk for me too

[Rye]

Female sparrowhawk.

[stigofthedump]

I've no idea, but well done on getting such an excellent photograph



Vince

[accipter]

female sparrowhawk, the big clue if you are not sure would be the size of the nest as you saw it, gos is really big, google it you will see what i mean.