Bird Identification

[Barmaid]

Found a couple of feathers on my lawn. nearby were lots of what I assume to be sparrow feathers. Anyway, this feather is quite big and reddy brown. Any ideas what bird it might have come off? Current thinking is an owl.

[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/2i6nhuh.jpg[/IMG]

[Barmaid]

Damn link wont work. No idea what I am doing.

[vulcan42]

http://i66.tinypic.com/2i6nhuh.jpg[/IMG]

[Barmaid]

Thank you Vulcan for putting that right.

[Togo]

To post a picture Barmaid, copy and paste the BOTTOM url of the four listed. I am thinking Sparrow Hawk without any pictorial clue.

[vulcan42]

Sorry, don't know why it doesn't open, it did when I transferred it to another page.

[Barmaid]

It worked for me Vulcan!

[Barmaid]

http://i66.tinypic.com/2i6nhuh.jpg

Thanks Togo. Try this.

[Barmaid]

Anyway, I should say that there were no bones or body material, just a load of sparrow (I think) feathers scattered all over. And 2 reddy brown feathers.

[Togo]

Yes I would say either female Sparrow Hawk or again female Kestral. Depending on where you live Red Kite would be an option but not likely.

[Barmaid]

Thanks Togo. Whatever it is it is using my lawn to eat stuff. Most mornings there are a new pile of scattered feathers. Dying to see whatever it is. Would a sparrowhawk or kestrel leave the bones? This is why were were wondering if it is an owl - mainly this stuff appears overnight and there is nothing left (although I havent investigated the spinney yet for owl pellets).

[Togo]

http://i63.tinypic.com/2d6l8a8.jpg

This is an image of a Female Sparrow Hawk "on a kill" and grounded. Unlike the male she is mostly a reddy brown colour and this feather may have been shed from under the tail area. Most hawks take the kill away after dispatch and leave no carcase or bones. Owls are hunters of small mammals on the ground not other birds that are in flight.

[Togo]

The hawk may have learnt that early morning there are small bird there for the taking, particularly if they are roosting nearby, or using a nearby bird feeder. We sometimes have a Sparrow Hawk that attacks our bird feeder, again early morning. An amazing sight when it comes in at about 60mph and is gone in a flash. Sometimes with feathers still floating in the air from the prey.

[Barmaid]

Ahhh now that makes sense. There are hundreds of birds in this garden. Make an absolute racket (meant in a nice way). I am guessing Mrs Hawk has realised that there is a ready supply of food here and its relatively quiet here too. Am completely surrounded by tall hedging and trees so there are loads of places for them to roost.

[Chipchopper]

Just looking at the shape of it, it reminds me of the tail feather of a male mallard (drake feather) in the way that it curls.