Observation of Sparrowhawk attack

[Cowgirl]

I'm afraid I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to goats or raptors. Ah well you learn something new everyday. Cheers RKB

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by RKB

Falcons must use the feet to do much (most?) of the killing too, though, with crushing or piercing footwork, as that woodcock (and other birds you see them with) are already pretty-much immobilised by the time the bill gets stuck in. While peregrines can whack prey from a stoop, it's hard to imagine a stoop at night, and many captures seem to be snatches (think also Merlins etc) rather than stoops, which means the prey needs to be subdued/incapacitated while still being carried.

I'm sure that's true in many cases, the initial impact often kills or at least debilitates the prey to some degree, and the larger falcon must inflict some damage with it's feet on a smaller birds whilst carrying them. But, in my opinion, falcons often simply hold their quarry until they can dispatch it with their beak - I'm sure there was a sequence of photos on the web recently (Birdforums maybe?) of a peregrine killing a feral pigeon with it's beak whilst in flight. If you watch the clip of the peregrine and woodcock, the falcon is gripping the woodcock by the neck, which would facilitate killing it with it's beak rather than any attempt to drive talons into vital body parts.

Falcons have weak feet compared to accipiters - one can fairly comfortably hold a female merlin or kestrel on your bare fist for instance, yet it can be a painful experience with a similar sized sparrowhawk! Accipiters are much more adept at using their feet, they're lightening fast at footing you, whereas falcons are relatively slow! However, falcons tend to bite when held, whereas accipiters rarely do. Doesn't prove much I suppose, except perhaps the hawk and falcon's reliance on different weapons?

On the subject of staging raptor attacks on film, I once saw a clip of a peregrine stooping at a pigeon. The bird circling high up was initially an eyass peregrine, by the time it hit the pigeon it had miraculously turned into an adult! That was one hell of a long stoop!

Cheers
Jonathan

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

yet it can be a painful experience with a similar sized sparrowhawk!

As a ringer, I can vouch for that!

[Acipiter]

Have you tried a sparrowhawk on your fist with no glove on Jonathan, not to be recommended

[Maggio]

I saw a Sparrowhawk attack this morning!

I woke up at 6am for work and heard a ruccus (birds tweeting) outside my bedroom window (I live in a bungalow).

I opened the curtains to see what was going on, and saw about 10 blackbirds just flying about going mental and right in front of my window was a Sparrowhawk with it's wings spread.

At first I thought the blackbirds were trying to get at something and the Sparrowhawk was protecting it

Then when the blackbirds left, I saw the Sparrowhawk was in fact standing on a blackbird. The blackbird in question continously tried to escape but the Sparrowhawk stood firm.

The Sparrowhawk then started pecking at the Blackbird and I thought it was eating it... but turns out it was plucking all the blackbirds feathers off. Was a little bit sick as the blackbird was still alive.

I did video about 2 minutes of it with my iPhone but as there was no zoom, it looks a little bit far away, even though it was no more than 10 yards away.

Was ridiculous to watch. Left a pile of feathers on the front lawn and then flew off with the blackbird.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Maggio

I saw a Sparrowhawk attack this morning!

I woke up at 6am for work and heard a ruccus (birds tweeting) outside my bedroom window (I live in a bungalow).

I opened the curtains to see what was going on, and saw about 10 blackbirds just flying about going mental and right in front of my window was a Sparrowhawk with it's wings spread.

At first I thought the blackbirds were trying to get at something and the Sparrowhawk was protecting it

Then when the blackbirds left, I saw the Sparrowhawk was in fact standing on a blackbird. The blackbird in question continously tried to escape but the Sparrowhawk stood firm.

The Sparrowhawk then started pecking at the Blackbird and I thought it was eating it... but turns out it was plucking all the blackbirds feathers off. Was a little bit sick as the blackbird was still alive.

I did video about 2 minutes of it with my iPhone but as there was no zoom, it looks a little bit far away, even though it was no more than 10 yards away.

Was ridiculous to watch. Left a pile of feathers on the front lawn and then flew off with the blackbird.

This is fairly normal behaviour of Sparrowhawks.