Kestral

[kitty miow]

A kestral swooped on a collared dove in mid air and carried the poor bird onto our lawn where it ate every scrap, although it was sad for the dove it was enlightning to actually see a bird of prey take position, hold it with one foot on the breast of the bird, pluck of all its feathers, then devour it, leaving nought but feathers, beak, one leg and few intestines. Also 3 large peanuts from the doves stomach. The whole process took about 40 minutes. Our garden is fringed on both sides by very tall trees that funnels insects that are gathered all day long by housemartins nesting in our eaves and then from twilight by a couple of bats. Also our garden is unusual as the grass is as a wild meadow in places, almost waist high, and it was to this area the kestral took it's prey. This is the second time this has happened in the last 12 months, the prey last time was a wood pidgeon and taken by a sparrow hawk. Our garden is full of woodmice, so it is a rich enviroment.

[Dogghound]

Are you sure it was a kestrel? Although they are capable of doing this it is much more common in sparrowhawks. Birds of prey are alway interesting to watch. It sounds like a fantastic garden.

[tigertom]

Are you sure was a kestral sounds more like a sparrow hawk to me as a female sporrow hawks will take birds to this size and I dont think a kestral would take a bird of this size though they will take birds as well as voles and mice.
MIKE

[faz]

hi welcome to WAB a male sparrowhawk can and do take collard doves as i have seen. a female can and do take woodpigeons i agree with the posters more likley to be a spar than a kestral although not inpossible

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by tigertom

I dont think a kestral would take a bird of this size

Kestrel will take birds upto the size of a feral pigeon, lapwing/golden plover, young ducks and young gulls. This usually occurs over open ground when the bird is on the floor rather than an active hunt in flight. A collared dove would be within the size range that a kestrel is capable of dealing with. However birds make up a small portion of the diet in comparison to mammals, and they are usually species like starling, meadow pipit, skylark, bunting etc.

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Kestrel will take birds upto the size of a feral pigeon, lapwing/golden plover, young ducks and young gulls. This usually occurs over open ground when the bird is on the floor rather than an active hunt in flight. A collared dove would be within the size range that a kestrel is capable of dealing with. However birds make up a small portion of the diet in comparison to mammals, and they are usually species like starling, meadow pipit, skylark, bunting etc.

Thanks for the info on that I knew they took small birds but did not think they took birds of that size.
I was posting at the same time so had not seen your post.
Thanks again.
MIKE

[Dogghound]

No worries Mike. It will be interesting to hear from the OP if this bird was definitely not a sparrowhawk, as its still not particularly common behavior. As you say small birds and small mammals are the norm.

[1one]

FINE !

[kitty miow]

Definately a kestral, it was so close to the house and confirmed not only by on line photos, but from our numerous bird books. We do have a sparrow hawk and I know the difference, at the age of almost 60 and being an avid wildlife/bird observer and having excellent eyesight I can confirm. I do not own a digital camera preffering the traditional 35mm type as photography also a hobby, but no film in camera!! I know I was right but would have loved a photo. I guess we should not be too restrictive and purist about bird/wildlife behaviour, as they never fail to amaze.