Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Sparrowhawk



Juvenile Sparrowhawk, Waterbeach, 13th January 2007, © Luca Patriccioli
Although not usually exposed, and, although illustrated in a video-clip but not even mentioned in BWPi, white bases to the scapulars is within the normal variation of Sparrowhawks, as in this similar Polish bird. The width of the top of the garden seat is 70mm, from which one can work out a very approximate wing-length of 184mm, which is even smaller than the smallest male Sparrowhawk. So this bird is almost certainly a male. [RGN]

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