Bird ID

[aclivity]

Last night I was sitting in our living room feeding one of the babies and I heard a muted 'thump' from the back of the house. I assumed it was one of the older kids upstairs, and thought no more of it.

A few minutes later Jo came downstairs with the other baby and called me into the kitchen ... there was some kind of bird of prey eating a pigeon in our garden!

I've attached a photo but it's terribly pixellated as I couldn't get close. You can get the idea of it from the picture though. It must have been about 12" from beak to toe, and I think the thump I heard was the pigeon being hit in flight (there were feathers strewn over a larger area than you would expect if it had been hit on the ground).

When we disturbed it, the prey bird lifted the pigeon in it's beak and flew off. Followed by the magpies that had congregated hoping for some scraps from the table, I think.

Any clues what it is? I checked our garden bird book but that just about has robins and starlings in it!

[Lou]

Female Sparrowhawk, I would say. Very capable of taking a pigeon and they then pluck it on the spot, so it fits. Looks like one too!

[Mal Bridgeman]

A Goshawk, perhaps?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/g/goshawk/index.asp

Rgrds
Mal

[keith_henson]

female sparrowhawk that is


seen rather alot of them round the fields thisd last few weeks

keith

[Ian B]

Yep, a female Sparrowhawk. A lovely bird to see in flight.

[Pigpen]

I would agree on female Sparrowhawk. I once saw a bird of prey (not sure what) take a pigeon in the air and can relate to the 'thump' noise. Incredible sight.