Male or Female Sparrowhawk ? (1 Viewer)

[jtwood]

This looked to my begginers eye's like a Female Sparrowhawk it has been sugested it could be a Male can anyone help with ID please

 

[neil brown]

although it looks quite dainty, possibly because of the angle of the shot this is an adult female bird.

 

[IanF]

The bold eyestripe and clean white front point to female for me. A young bird due to the brownish back and pale yellow eye. It does look fairly small and sleek but we've noticed quite a bit of size difference between the ones we see amongst both juveniles and adults.

 

[Hotspur]

Even a juvenile male will show some buffy tones on the breast whilst this bird is very black and white.

 

[Fast_falkon]

Agreed with female

 

[Cristian Mihai]

Agreed - female.

 

[jtwood]

Many thanks for your help Female it is
JT

 

[Chato]

Even a juvenile male will show some buffy tones on the breast whilst this bird is very black and white.

I'm puzzled. Isn't this a "Merlin?" In the US the word Sparowhawk means Kestrel.

Dave

 

[John M]

Adult female.

 

[cavan wood]

I'm puzzled. Isn't this a "Merlin?" In the US the word Sparowhawk means Kestrel.

Dave

Hi Dave,

American kestrels were called sparrowhawks a very long time ago. In Europe a sparrow hawk is an accipiter much like our sharp-shinned and coopers hawk. Merlins however, are falcons, as are kestrels, and this bird is an accipiter.

Scott

 

[CAU]

Like Ian wrote, this bird is definitely a JUVENILE. Note the rufous margins on the feathers on the upperparts, which exclude an adult. Adults would also show less streaked cheeks and lack a streaked neck, and they have a less prominent supercilium.

Compare here:

Juvenile:
http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/index.php?pic_id=pirpa1123953828&lang=eng

A bird almost completely in adult plumage:
http://www.tarsiger.com/gallery/index.php?pic_id=SL1134227008&lang=eng

 

[Chato]

Hi Dave,

American kestrels were called sparrowhawks a very long time ago. In Europe a sparrow hawk is an accipiter much like our sharp-shinned and coopers hawk. Merlins however, are falcons, as are kestrels, and this bird is an accipiter.

Scott

Sure looks like a Merlin...

Like this one I shot in Brooklyn...

Some of those I shot in Brooklyn have yellow eyes, some black...

But I wont argue the point, I'm no expert.

Dave

 

[CAU]

Some of those I shot in Brooklyn have yellow eyes, some black...

Merlins always have dark eyes (like the one in your photo). Can you post any of the shots showing yellow eyes?

As for the other differences, note that Merlins have longitudinal streaks on the underparts, while the Eurasian Sparrowhawk has transverse bars.

 

[Chato]

Merlins always have dark eyes (like the one in your photo). Can you post any of the shots showing yellow eyes?

As for the other differences, note that Merlins have longitudinal streaks on the underparts, while the Eurasian Sparrowhawk has transverse bars.

Sure no problem....

This little guy made a pass at a Flicker and then had second thoughts.

Dave

 

[Chris Benesh]

Sure no problem....

This little guy made a pass at a Flicker and then had second thoughts.

Hi Dave,

CAU's rules apply here. The bird in your photo is a juvenile Accipiter, and appears likely to be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. While similar to Merlin (and a really tricky angle to judge these things), the eyes are pale and the tail pattern is that of an Accipiter. Notice how the visible part of the tail is mostly pale with a narrow dark band. That would never be the case for a Merlin (see below). BTW, a great shot!

I've attached a shot of a spread-tailed Merlin that shows how narrow the pale bands are.

Chris

 

[danehower]

Great photo in any case Jtwood - that bird has some determitation in its eyes ! And great responses for ID !

 

[tarzzz]

Those Merlin-photos are great !

But, looks nothing like a Sparrowhawk..

//Ben

 

[Chato]

Hi Dave,

CAU's rules apply here. The bird in your photo is a juvenile Accipiter, and appears likely to be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. While similar to Merlin (and a really tricky angle to judge these things), the eyes are pale and the tail pattern is that of an Accipiter. Notice how the visible part of the tail is mostly pale with a narrow dark band. That would never be the case for a Merlin (see below). BTW, a great shot!

I've attached a shot of a spread-tailed Merlin that shows how narrow the pale bands are.

Chris

Well give me some time with Photoshop to redo the tail, and then I'll get back to you with the "proof." :-O

Dave