View Full Version : Bird quiz...
...and staying over tonight we have this little beauty in the bathroom...
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f318/tirelessboy/Kes1002.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f318/tirelessboy/Kes1004.jpg
you dont see that everyday
DarrenSV650S
13-11-08, 10:01 PM
That'll teach you to put bird seed in the lampshade
We do have a cage for it so it's not loose. Fully equiped with small log and dead chick for food...nice.
Treacle
13-11-08, 10:13 PM
Cant remamber the last time that a Kestral flow in my bathroom. lol
fizzwheel
13-11-08, 10:16 PM
We do have a cage for it so it's not loose. Fully equiped with small log and dead chick for food...nice.
How come you have a kestrel staying with you ?
Found in Plymouth city centre today and brought in to 'a place of safety'. It'll be released tomorrow...
missyburd
13-11-08, 10:49 PM
That ain't a Kestrel, tis a Sparrowhawk I believe :p
missyburd
13-11-08, 10:53 PM
http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/554images/Sparrowhawk.jpg http://www.kestreling.com/images/common_kestrel.jpg
sparrowhawk left, kestrel right. ;-)
http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/554images/Sparrowhawk.jpg http://www.kestreling.com/images/common_kestrel.jpg
sparrowhawk left, kestrel right. ;-)
That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure as it's only a juvenile...it's not unlike a Merlin either...bit tricky when they're young and have got sharp pointy bits!!
missyburd
13-11-08, 11:20 PM
That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure as it's only a juvenile...it's not unlike a Merlin either...bit tricky when they're young and have got sharp pointy bits!!
Merlins are even smaller than Kestrels, your bird looks a bit bigger. Difficult to say but I'd go with an adult male, he has quite distinguished orange underparts. Howwever, I think the older juveniles have this too, so you're probably right :D
Lovely looking bird, inside your house is no doubt a change from the usual garden or town!
Luckypants
14-11-08, 12:53 AM
I'd be more inclined to the Merlin
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/m/merlin/index.asp
The chest and eyes / head look right for a female?
missyburd
14-11-08, 01:25 AM
Well they are similar in colouring but the merlin is much smaller than a sparrowhawk. Always much easier to tell in real life than a photo. Best way to tell is when they are in flight, the merlin is a falcon and therefore has pointed wings, the sparrowhawks are more rounded. Also female Merlins are a lot browner than males, no slate-blue coloring on the head and back, or orangeyness.
I still think Sparrowhawk :mrgreen: Tis bugging me now though, hurry up and find out for certain Stingo!
chris8886
14-11-08, 12:14 PM
http://people.eku.edu/ritchisong/554images/Sparrowhawk.jpg http://www.kestreling.com/images/common_kestrel.jpg
sparrowhawk left, kestrel right. ;-)
i think the lady is correct.
That's what I was thinking but wasn't sure as it's only a juvenile...it's not unlike a Merlin either...bit tricky when they're young and have got sharp pointy bits!!
merlin's are falcons and sparrowhawks are well... hawks. the difference comes in the legs. hawks have longer/no feathers on their legs normally, plus the orangey breast to me say sparrowhawk. *i may however be totally wrong as it's a while since i've been able to get invovled with birds of prey.
dizzyblonde
14-11-08, 12:37 PM
How do you know when its capable of being released?
Also how do you know its wild, and not a tame one, that hasn't a clue how to be wild?
chris8886
14-11-08, 01:02 PM
How do you know when its capable of being released?
Also how do you know its wild, and not a tame one, that hasn't a clue how to be wild?
would a 'tame' bird not have a ring or marking of some sort on it to show that? ringed wild birds are usually identifiable as such are they not? :smt102 if it is 'tame' it may well just fly back to where it came from, best thing though would probably be to call the RSPCA, who'll ocme and get it and decide what's best.
I wasn't there when it was released but...I reckon it was a sparrowhawk given that it had the horizontal breast markings and some white markings on its back.
It was released this morning and flew off with no difficulty. It did not have any rings or tags etc...hopefully it'll be alright. Not sure what the initiak problem was - maybe it flew into a wall and stunned itself or something :smt102.
It,s proper Bo i tell thee.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00394/SNF24TVBA_394209a.jpg
missyburd
14-11-08, 04:11 PM
How do you know when its capable of being released?
Also how do you know its wild, and not a tame one, that hasn't a clue how to be wild?
I don't believe Sparrowhawks are regularly used in falconry, usually Harris Hawks which aren't native to this country. Falcons are - as the sport suggests - more commonly used. I've not heard of anyone keeping a Sparrowhawk as a pet, but then I wouldn't put it past someone.
Chris numbers, I think you're right with the ringing/tagging, nice easy way of identifying a bird if it belongs to anyone.
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