Another Sparrowhawk Question!

[animalglass]

Hi,
Yesterday I was working at home when I heard a thud, then another thud on the window. I didn't want to look - but when I did I saw a sparrowhawk staring back at me with a wood pidgeon between his legs!

He was there for about 40 minutes to an hour (I'm not exagerating) eating his prey. He ate the whole of the pigeon just leaving one leg and a million feathers. I was very surprised how each time I peeked out of the window (I took loads of photos) he wasn't bothered by me.

I always thought of them as shy birds, was it just not bothered because it was starving?

Karen

[aeshna5]

More likely to have been a she than a he; a Wood Pigeon would be unusual prey for a male.

Sparrowhawks can sometimes be quite fearless.

[animalglass]

He looked like a she

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Ive often heard a couple of thuds on our window as well, this is usually the culprit.

A sparrowhawk and an oppertunist magpie.

Its our resident female sparrowhawk. Her favourite dish is dove.

[animalglass]

Thanks for the link - great pictures.
Our garden is tiny, and the one out the front where the sparrowhawk was has no trees and is only a six foot square of grass, but she does visit often as we have tonnes (counted 40 plus!) sparrows nearly every day in the garden.

I've got a couple of pics, but don't know how to upload them!

Karen