SANParks.org Forums |
| Moderator: hilda |
| Previous topic | First unread post | Next topic Page 1 of 2 [ 23 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next |
| Post new topic | Post a reply |
| Print view |
| Sparrowhawk: Little |
|---|
|
Jumbo |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:03 am |
|
I hope it is ok if I ask for help on the ID of the following bird…was not seen in a park, was seen in Maputo (Can be delete if not in order
It was just a tad bigger than a laughing dove. ![]() |
| Last post |
|
Junior Virtual Ranger Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:55 pm Posts: 336 Location: Schoenmakerskop (near Port Elizabeth) |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:15 am |
|
At first glance this looks like a young Little Sparrow-Hawk to me.
|
|
Jumbo |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:28 am |
|
j-ms wrote At first glance this looks like a young Little Sparrow-Hawk to me.
Thanks j-ms. I also looked at the Little Sparrowhawk as an option, what bugs me is the legs that appear to be orange…might it just be the light? |
|
Distinguished Virtual Ranger Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:38 pm Posts: 1989 |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:36 am |
|
j-ms wrote At first glance this looks like a young Little Sparrow-Hawk to me.
Agree. The other one that comes close in colouration and the spots on the breast and legs will be male juvenile African Goshawk but is much larger than what you've mentioned and it has a grey, not yellow, cere. As to leg colour. As with eye colour it is normally not the shade indicted in the books and light plays a role as well. |
|
Junior Virtual Ranger Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:55 pm Posts: 336 Location: Schoenmakerskop (near Port Elizabeth) |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:03 am |
|
The only other small accipter that occurs in your area is the Gabar Goshawk which does have orangy legs but is a bit larger (you said your bird was the size of a dove) and more importantly, has red-brown eyes as opposed to the striking yellow eyes of the LSH. It is interesting to note that LSH chicks have orange legs and although your bird is a bit older it may be a bit late in getting "mature" legs. What struck me apart from the eyes and size was the white tail spots, the brown back (indicating it is a juvenile), the yellow cere and the tear shaped dark blobs on the underside (just visible).
|
|
Virtual Ranger Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:28 pm Posts: 421 Location: JHB |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:03 am |
|
Agree with j-ms and francoisd.
A juv Little Sparrowhawk. Light can be tricky with eye and leg colouring but the legs look more yellow than orange to me. |
|
Junior Virtual Ranger Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:57 pm Posts: 30 Location: Johannesburg |
| Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:13 pm |
|
It sure looks like a Juvenile Little Sparrowhawk,
Except for the legs (which might be light) the rest all fits. The yellow eye ring is just starting to form together with the yellow cere. Very nice photo |
|
Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:27 am Posts: 5349 Location: Chasing down the rarities |
| Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:55 am |
|
It can be one of two raptors. The size excludes most other raptors.
Little Sparrowhawk? African Sparrowhawk? African Sparrowhawk is slightly bigger than its cousin. It also has a GREY cere. Little Sparrowhawk's cere is a more yellow/orange colour but as Snoobab pointed out, light can play tricks on our eyes, so I won't go for that alone in trying to id this bird. It also has a yellow eye. The Little Sparrowhawk's most distinctive trait is two white spots on the tail. I think Jumbo did well, by accident probably This is thus a Little Sparrowhawk, I agree. |
|
Jumbo |
| Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:00 am |
|
Thanks guys….marked it that I saw a juvenile…still need to see the adult though!
I think the size is also a clear indication (as j-ms mentioned). It was sitting very close to some doves and I initially thought it was a dove with a strange “attitude” …that is why I took a closer look. @WTM, “by accident”???…no way! |
|
Virtual Ranger Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:28 pm Posts: 421 Location: JHB |
| Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:24 am |
|
wildtuinman wrote It can be one of two raptors. The size excludes most other raptors.
Little Sparrowhawk? African Sparrowhawk? Don't you mean African Goshawk |
|
Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:27 am Posts: 5349 Location: Chasing down the rarities |
| Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:49 am |
|
Snoobab wrote wildtuinman wrote It can be one of two raptors. The size excludes most other raptors. Little Sparrowhawk? African Sparrowhawk? Don't you mean African Goshawk Thats what happens when you are Afrikaans and not paying attention when translating your bird names. In Afr they are all known as "Sperwers" so "Afrikaans Sperwer" translated directly like all the other smaller "Sperwers" would be Sparrowhawk. But not this one, No! This one has got to be a Goshawk. |
|
Junior Virtual Ranger Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:57 pm Posts: 30 Location: Johannesburg |
| Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:47 am |
|
WTM, If the white spots are not there, then look at the forming yellow eye ring of the adult Little Sparrowhawk!
|
|
Legendary Virtual Ranger Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:27 am Posts: 5349 Location: Chasing down the rarities |
| Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:37 pm |
|
HannoLangenhoven wrote WTM, If the white spots are not there, then look at the forming yellow eye ring of the adult Little Sparrowhawk!
Doesn't the juv. Shikra also have an yellow eye? |
|
Junior Virtual Ranger Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2005 7:55 pm Posts: 336 Location: Schoenmakerskop (near Port Elizabeth) |
| Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:49 pm |
|
wildtuinman wrote HannoLangenhoven wrote WTM, If the white spots are not there, then look at the forming yellow eye ring of the adult Little Sparrowhawk! Doesn't the juv. Shikra also have an yellow eye? More orange-yellow than the bright yellow of the LSH. |
|
Junior Virtual Ranger Joined: Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:57 pm Posts: 30 Location: Johannesburg |
| Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:01 pm |
|
Not the eye itself, Little Sparrowhawk ad has an yellow eye-ring
|
| Top |
| Post new topic | Post a reply |
|
Go to page 1, 2 Next Page 1 of 2 [ 23 posts ] Previous topic | First unread post | Next topic |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests |
| Board index » Special Interests » Birds |