Bird of prey indentification

[Nick1881]

Found the remains of a Pigeon in my parent garden and assumed a cat got it, checked the CCTV footage and saw it was actually a bird.

Any ideas what sort of bird this is?

New link

Bird of prey hunting Pigeon - CCTV footage

youtu.be

 

[Whitewater]

Great crested queen letterbox wasp.

 

[tonys]

Sparrow Hawk?

 

[Junglist]

Paging @Chris Wilson

Though my guess would be a Goshawk and failing that some harrier perhaps.

Edit 1:
In fact I'm sticking with Goshawk. Sparrowhawks are tiny

Goshawk Bird Facts | Accipiter Gentilis

A large hawk, almost reaching buzzard size. When seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow. Find out more

www.rspb.org.uk

edit 2:

Now I'm not so sure. Watched the video a few times and it looks to be a similar size to the prey item which would suggest I was wrong and @Whitewater was bang on the money. Though looking at pictures of a Goshawk and Sparrow Hawk's tail feathers, they have similar markings. But I would expect a Goshawk to have a significant size advantage over a pigeon.

 

[Chris Wilson]

Looks like a Sparrow Hawk from its wing spread and markings as it mantles the pigeon, much too small for a buzzard.

 

[Junglist]

Looks like a Sparrow Hawk from its wing spread and markings as it mantles the pigeon, much too small for a buzzard.

Aren't Buzzards more of a carrion bird anyway? Or am I confusing them with a Kite?

 

[Chris Wilson]

Paging @Chris Wilson

Though my guess would be a Goshawk and failing that some harrier perhaps.

Edit 1:
In fact I'm sticking with Goshawk. Sparrowhawks are tiny

Goshawk Bird Facts | Accipiter Gentilis

A large hawk, almost reaching buzzard size. When seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow. Find out more

www.rspb.org.uk

edit 2:

Now I'm not so sure. Watched the video a few times and it looks to be a similar size to the prey item which would suggest I was wrong and @Whitewater was bang on the money. Though looking at pictures of a Goshawk and Sparrow Hawk's tail feathers, they have similar markings. But I would expect a Goshawk to have a significant size advantage over a pigeon.

<LOL> I'm a bloody mechanic, not an ornathologist, but thanks.... Lots of Sparrow Hawks round here and they have no problem cathing and killing pigeons and doves, although they are not large birds of prey. I don't think it's big enough for an adult sized Goshawk, which it would be at this time of the year.

 

[Chris Wilson]

Aren't Buzzards more of a carrion bird anyway? Or am I confusing them with a Kite?

Buzzard mainly catch rabbits round here, but I am sure they'll eat carrion too. Only seen Red Kites up high, not sure what they fancy! A small dog probably

 

[Nick1881]

Paging @Chris Wilson

Though my guess would be a Goshawk and failing that some harrier perhaps.

In fact I'm sticking with Goshawk. Sparrowhawks are tiny

Goshawk Bird Facts | Accipiter Gentilis

A large hawk, almost reaching buzzard size. When seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow. Find out more

www.rspb.org.uk

edit 2:

Now I'm not so sure. Watched the video a few times and it looks to be a similar size to the prey item which would suggest I was wrong and @Whitewater was bang on the money.

The colouring is right for Sparrowhawk and GosHawk. Hard to tell the size though.

 

[NotAGolf]

That's either a very quick bird, or I'm being trolled. That's just 1m 44s of nothing

 

[Junglist]

@Chris Wilson - You say you're not an expert but you're still the first person I know who would have the best answer!

That's either a very quick bird, or I'm being trolled. That's just 1m 44s of nothing

Top right corner near the plant pots. It fooled me too

 

[mrgubby]

Probably a female Sparrow Hawk, I've seen them take pigeons.

Unlikely to be a Goshawk as they are not common

 

[peterwalkley]

Sparrow Hawk would be my best guess too. Its not much bigger than the flying poo machine it deservedly murdered.

 

[Werewolf]

Looks like it's it's a Klingon to me.


More seriously i think it's probably a sparrow hawk, we get them and kites in our garden from time to time, we also had something that I think was a buzzard going by the wingspan (something like 4-5 foot)

 

[dave28]

sparrowhawk

there are youtube videos of them killing pigeons and they get on top of them like that and attack the neck

 

[Efour]

That's either a very quick bird, or I'm being trolled. That's just 1m 44s of nothing

This

Damn I thought that was the pigeon till the end...

Sparrow hawk is a good guess.

 

[adam cool dude]

Fatboy Slim is the answer you are looking for.

(I only read the thread title).

 

[potatolord]

Reckon it's a sparrowhawk.

Goshawks are uncommon and pretty big.

Too small for a buzzard or kite.

 

[Diddums]

lol pigeon ganked


hawks: goml noobs

 

[mrgubby]

Sparrow Hawk with a pigeon in our garden a few years ago