Sparrowhawk or Merlin, Surrey, UK (1 Viewer)

[glyn]

At 3.00pm today in my garden in Woking, Surrey, England, this bird flew fast down to the ground under a bush then onto the dead tree branch as in the attached photos, taken from video footage. Poor due to murky day! First thought was Sparrowhawk, but I am worried that it was browny on the back and seemed small for a female and even small for a male, but had no bluey colour at all....seemed smaller than a Jay even, but all a bit quick!. Never saw the front nor the legs. Just checking it's not a Merlin. The wings seem pointed in the photos?

 

[KGS]

Sparrowhawk

 

[glyn]

Is it a juvenile then?

 

[KGS]

I would say it is an adult female, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

I would say it is an adult female, but I'm not 100% sure.

juvenile has pale fringed coverts.

 

[glyn]

Adult female worries me because it was so small compared to a beautiful specimen that landed in the garden 15 years ago. It showed all the breast markings, legs etc fantastically as it sat on a pigeon which it then took off with. That seemed enormous at the time. I even wondered if it had been a Goshawk...but in a garden in Woking!! This specimen today could never have taken a pigeon I feel.

 

[lou salomon]

could well be a younger male, some show a slight super.

 

[vwxyzen]

I'd say it's a male Sparrowhawk and has already been mentioned not in juvenile plumage due to lack of pale fringes, but as Lou says a younger male

 

[Boro Birder]

Possibly 2012 youngster, does look like a male and from the description giving on the size, I'd say that adds weight to it being so.

 

[P.Sunesen]

I'd say it's a male Sparrowhawk and has already been mentioned not in juvenile plumage due to lack of pale fringes, but as Lou says a younger male

Sparrowhawks only come in two age classes.

Juvenile from fledging and app. for the next 12 months:
Brown on dorsal side, with more or less pronounced paler fringes, usually quite distinct at this time of year. They invariably have quite a speckled/messy look on the head because of striped hind crown , distinct whitish supercilium, and distinct dark shafts streaks on the cheeks)

Adult:
Male always quite pale bluish grey upper parts will little,or ill-defined supercilium.
Female often has visible pale eyebrow, and are more brown-tinged to the slate grey upper side.

The bird above is certainly an adult female, size often being difficult to gauge, and the one you saw 15 years ago did all it could to 'flex its muscles'

 

[Biancone]

By the way, you could have excluded Merlin because most falcons have an all-dark eye, lacking the pale yellow iris shown in your Sparrowhawk images.
Brian