Confirmation please that this is a Collared Sparrowhawk? I am confused by similar photos of a Brown Goshawk.
Look at those talons!!
Picture taken this week on the outskirts of Burra, SA.
Many thanks,
Mike
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I think it's a Sparrowhawk, they're easy to confuse.
Lovely, many thanks for that.
Mike
Hold on, I think I was a bit hasty...
A good method for determining which bird is that the Sparrowhawk stares (SS) and the Goshawk glares (GG).
Your bird appears to have an "eyebrow" tilted downwards that gives the appearance of a frown/glare, so maybe after all it is a Brown Goshawk.
There are others ways that differ these two birds, but this method usually works for me.
I liked the analogy and will try to use it in future. I have attached two "non keepers" which are out of focus. Do they assist at all?
It still looks like a Goshawk to me, I believe the end of the tail feathers also differ between these two birds, but they happen to be conveniently blocked in the first photo.
Thanks Nathan, If it is still aroundin a week's time I wil try again! Going bush for the week.
I am no expert, but according to Morcombe, the length of the middle toe (Collared Sparrowhawk longer) can also be an indicator, and if you look at the predominantly bare legs (Brown Goshawk) compared to the "trousered upper" leg of the Collared Sparrowhawk.
So now I have confused myself, toes look like maybe Collared Sparrowhawk, upper legs like Brown Goshawk, agree with Nathan about the "frown/glare".
Size might also be a factor, Brown Goshawk 40-50cm, Collared Sparrowhawk 29-39cm.
I was waitng for an expert, to confirm my theories, but no one else has turned up. Might have to wait a bit longer.
My opinion - Brown Goshawk, but happy to be wrong, and learn a bit more, from someone who knows!
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
The Sparrowhawk has very thin legs, like toothpicks. Looking at the legs in your pic i will go for Goshawk.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
I am learning more and more here! Many thanks. Now off the air until next weekend. Many thanks everyone.
Hi, that is a tough call without a good size reference, the Brown goshawk being generally larger. If you see it in flight, the Brown goshawk has a more rounded tail compared to the squarer tail of the Collared sparrowhawk. Based on the first pic "glare" with the ridge over the eye I would lean toward Goshawk but by no means sure. Having said that the middle toe does look considerably longer... need more pics : )
I've been hesitant to contribute to this one, while I find them relatively easy in the field, the photos can easily stump me.
My first impression is CS. The bird has a smallish head, spindly legs and a long middle toe more than half the length of the inside toe. Yes the bird does have a glare, however this is a feature that can be present to a certain extent on CS and is not a solid defining feature. If you have any photos that show the shape of the end of the tail, it would seal the deal in either direction :)
Birding Blog: Close Encounters of the Bird Kind
Aside from the rounded or cut off tail and talon length, a Collared Sparrowhawk is the size of a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and a Brown Goshawk is bigger. Female goshawks are bigger than males. A bit of useful info. Lorne, Bundanoon, NSW.
I think from the size alone perspective the Brown Goshawk wins!! There were at the time a couple of Cuckoo Shrikes in the area, and this bird was quite a bit bigger.
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and contributions.
However, a female Collared Sparrowhawk should be similar in size to a male Brown Goshawk.
I will get my friend Steve Debus to check this out.
Incidentally, my guess is Collared Sparrowhawk.
I am thinking CS due to long, spindly legs and long middle toe. The frowning look seems to be BG though. I'll post Steve's response here.
Got an e-mail from Steve this afternoon:
Hi Akos,
I agree, Sparrowhawk, on account of the small brow-ridge, small bill, spindly legs,
and middle toe a whole segment longer than the other toes. However, one critical
diagnostic feature (tail tip) is not visible in the photo! An ID from a photo needs
to capture the essential features in that photo; the field guides point out that
tail-tip shape separates Brown Goshawk from Collared Sparrowhawk. Of course you
know this, but it apparently needs emphasising in the BIBY forum.
Cheers,
Steve
Thank you all for your help on this. I think we can call the matter closed and, that the bird is Collared Sparrowhawk.
I have noted the comments about getting better quality photos! especially the tail feathers! I am still on a steep learning curve re BIF!
Again my thanks. I see from another post thiese two birds attract quite a lot of attention!
all the beast,
Mike