You silly buzzard!

[AJB]

I’m used to birds bouncing off my front window at this time of year as I think they’re after the reflection of the rowan tree and its berries in my front garden. But something nearly took the window out this morning! When I looked I couldn’t believe what was wandering around dazed!

I managed to snap this through the window just before it flew off – is it a buzzard?

Andy

 

[scanker]

That looks more like a sparrowhawk to me, probably a juvenile. I'm no expert though. What size is it - hard to tell from the photo?

 

[AJB]

I would estimate about 18 inches from slightly bent beak to tail!

 

[scanker]

That would be a bit big for a sparrowhawk then and you may be right. I'd say sparrowhawks were inherently more likely to hit windows whilst in hot pursuit than buzzards though.

I'll bow out now and see what everyone else has to say.

 

[falcon]

I'd say Sparrowhawk....brownish plumage indicates female or juvenile though juv's have streaking rather than barring. While buzzards have great variations in plumage the barring is characteristic of Sparrowhawks and Goshawk. I don't think it's a Gos as they're pretty secretive residents of dense woodland, whereas Sparrowhawks are frequent foragers of birdtable garden birds and your pic seems to fit that catagory....

 

[robin wood]

I would definitely say female sparrowhawk, look at its skinny little foot, gos and buzzard are much more chunky. As falcon says frequent feeders at the bird table but normally here and gone in the blink of an eye leaving only a cacophony of alarm calls behind them. Nice to get the picture.

 

[dwardo]

Sparrow hawk Probably chasing its reflection until smash!

 

[Sniper]

I would estimate about 18 inches from slightly bent beak to tail!

Certainly sounds a bit big for a sparrowhawk, picture doesn't help hugely, are the feet and legs yellow? Could be a juvy buzzard also looks a bit bulky for a perigrine wouldn't be a harrier would it? I'm having a little problem with the colour on this machine so I may be way off.

 

[AJB]

I think the feet were yellow, but the whole thing was only a split second, I didn't see much more than the picture

 

[redneck]

buzzards generally tend to be darker brown and not as mottled as that one appears to be, but check out this pic..

http://www.everythingexmoor.org.uk/images/buzzard.jpg

 

[Staghound]

One clear difference that your picture shows well is the number of dark bands on the tail. Buzzard have eight to ten bands, sparrowhawk only four or five.

 

[AJB]

One clear difference that your picture shows well is the number of dark bands on the tail. Buzzard have eight to ten bands, sparrowhawk only four or five.

Sparrowhawk it is then!

Does everyone agree?

 

[Bushwhacker]

A Buzzard is a lot darker brown.

 

[thewanderer]

thats definately a sparrow hawk looking slightly stunned
majority of common buzzards (Buteo buteo) are brown with the breast mottling lighter brown with paler

it it was grey with the pale breast and black mottling then it would have been a goshawk

 

[firecrest]

Sparrowhawk it is then!

Does everyone agree?

All in favour say Aye.

Aye

 

[Scrimmy]

It is a juvenille Female Sparrowhawk, one of this years broods. Cain

 

[WoodWhite]

probably a sparrohawk, apparently when I was younger a sparrohawk hit our kitchen window and walked aorund dazed for ages, I wish so much I could remember

 

[AJB]

Thanks guys - there are so many things I wish I was good at and bird ID is one!

 

[GreenmanBushcraft]

Blimy, you don't get that every day. Hope all was well in the end.

Kris