Mystery bird of prey in garden

[greenace233]

Hello everyone

Its been a while since ive last posted, but once again i cant stop wondering what this bird was in the garden . I was working away in the dining room when i looked up in the garden. There sat on a patio slab a sight for sore eyes. This bird was larger than a blackbird but smaller than a magpie. Hooked dark cooloured beak and shoulders quite high up. It was like a large sparrow, same coulouring but no markings on the head. I have a had look on the google images of possibles but have drawn a blank. It was not speckled. I got up to get the binoculars but it vanished. Any experts out there who could possibly identify would be brilliant. That day none of the bird food was eaten from the tables.Thanks everyone. Sorry if this is an obvious one im used to tits, blackbirds etc and a very territorial mistle thrush. All vanished for the day.

[rossy]

sparrowhawk for me , rossy.

[greenace233]

Hi rossy

Thank you for the help, i thought sparrowhawk but it had no breast speckles, just plain brown and darker brown wings, quite small also. debbie

[Rye]

Sparrowhawk.

[Wild-Woman]

I can only think of sparrowhawk, especially if your garden birds have gone to ground and abandoned the bird table.

[Dogghound]

I suspect sparrowhawk, without a photo you could never say for sure though. However at that size there are few other things it could be. 99% of the time birds of prey in gardens are sparrowhawks which usually breed and hunt in them. Occasionally other birds of prey enter gardens from other areas like kestrel and if your lucky merlin. Few british birds of prey have no flecking, spots etc on the chest, you may have not noticed them.

[faz]

sparrowkawk for me too

[gatesheadbirder]

Hi Greenace - from the habit and location I'd have to say Sparrowhawk, but given that small size have you looked at Merlin photos online?

[greenace233]

Hi everyone

thank you all for your thoughts, i spoke to the neighbours today and apparantly its a sparrowhawk, very small for the norm, it comes in the winter for food (last 2 years). all the neighbours dont miss a thing and even the birds are mentioned at the local neighbourhood watch meetings, all retired people and very passionate about the wildlife. Every cat is known and its habits, quite incredible to be honest. When i moved to the house the present owner asked if i would carry on feeding the birds which i did and feel very thankful for this. i now am well and truly hooked. Just to mention we had a large flock of wax wings in the area. Stripped the berries and then they were gone, what a joy that was to see!

[faz]

lucky you waxwings as well as a sparwk