Robin,
Both birds are youngish Collared Sparrowhawk, possibly from different broods. The best character to pick the two species apart
IF you can get a look at the feet, is the extra long middle toe of the sparrowhawk. Another feature, possibly not that reliable in recently fledged young, where the tail feathers may still be growing, or moulting adults, is that
sparrowhawks have a squarish to slightly forked tail whereas goshawks are generally round in shape. there are also facial characters that also come in to play. Perhaps Geoffrey Dabb has some good head shots to show the difference.
Mark
On 3/02/2018 1:02 PM, Robin Eckermann wrote:
There were (at least) 3 hawks around the upper tracks at ANBG this morning, and I got snaps of two different birds. I would be grateful if any member could identify them - whether Sparrowhawks or Goshawks (or one of each) - from the pictures below ... and
if so, indicate what were the definitive features determining such decision.
Collared Sparrowhawk or
Brown Goshawk?
(click on thumbnail for larger image)
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Regards ... Robin Eckermann
Phone: 02-6161-6161 (w) 0418-630-555 (m)
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