Bird of Prey - ID?

[archaeoImages]

<p>Hi, <br>

Can anyone help with the identification of this bird?<br>

http://www.photo.net/photo/18184296&size=lg <br>

Photo taken in Essex, England - February 2016. Caught in the act of eating a pigeon. <br>

Thanks - Martyn</p>

[Roger G]

<p>Very cool! It's a harrier, I think most likely Hen Harrier, <em>Circus cyaneus</em>. However, I live in the US and am not really familiar with European raptors [unfortunately].</p>

[Laura Weishaupt]

<p>This is a hawk, not a harrier. Take a look at Eurasion Sparrowhawk (<em>Accipiter nisus</em>) <a href="https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discover">here </a><br>

Based on the description, this would be a female with the more brown coloration on the back. Our friends in England can verify or provide a better ID.</p>

<p> </p>

[Roger G]

<p>Looks like Laura is right. Next time I'll wait 'til I'm awake before posting.</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>Could also be the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_buzzard">Common Buzzard (Buteo Buteo)</a>? It's very common in N-W Europe, and looks quite like this one (never saw them eat pigeons, that's one bit that keeps me in doubt).</p>

[nigel_deacon]

<p>Martyn, your hawk is a female <strong>Eurasian sparrowhawk</strong> <em>Accipiter nisus</em> in immature plumage (i.e. a bird hatched in 2015). This is not a speculative identification; I am 100% certain of it. This is THE classic avian predator of garden birds up to the size of a woodpigeon in the UK, and they are particularly fond of collared doves. I see them pretty much daily in my garden.<br>

Best wishes, Nigel (UK)</p>

[Laura Weishaupt]

<p>Nigel, thanks for the confirmation. I thought it was a female, but didn't pick up on the juvenile plumage. Good to learn a new detail.</p>

[archaeoImages]

<p>Thanks to everyone who responded. Happy with the Sparrowhawk ID.<br>

Regards - Martyn</p>

[colin carron]

<p>Here is another Sparrowhawk also taken in Essex, UK, this one was eating a pigeon in my back garden. The female (as in both pictures) is quite a bit larger than the male and can tackle pigeons and simalar sized birds while the smaller male goes for smaller prey (eg sparrows). The bird in your picture is standing in grass which obscures its long legs which you can see in the pic below. They chase their prey through bushes and undergrowth, helped by their streamilned shape and amazing manoeuvrability. They were fairly rare in the UK not long ago but are now making a welcome comeback. They can be confused with kestrels except the kestrel has dark eyes.</p><div></div>

[archaeoImages]

<p>Colin,<br /><br />Nice shot - didn't realise they are so common hereabouts, don't recall ever seeing one before (not up close at any rate). Happy to see more of them, far too many pigeons... :-)<br /><br />Regards - Martyn</p>

[colin carron]

<p>Hi Martyn, there seems to be a resurgence of birds of prey in southern Uk recently. Red kites are now a common site along motorways (permanent supply of roadkill), I've seen buzzards and kestrels around Hainault country park and of course that sparrowhawk just outside the window! Great if one is not a pigeon.</p>