canberrabirds

Collared Sparrowhawk & prey

To: Canberra birds <>
Subject: Collared Sparrowhawk & prey
From: John Layton <>
Date: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:27:22 +0000

While standing at the end of our driveway this morning I heard a shrill, truncated twitter and, a second later, a small raptor flew past me carrying a little brown bird. Despite the small prey the hawk seemed to be schlepping along as it rose above the carport, crossed the yard and came to rest in the upper branches of a tall silver birch. As I watched, the hawk began to pluck its quarry but I was unable to identify it, so I went to fetch my binoculars thinking that by the time I got back  the little nimrod would have vanished.

 

Anyhow, it was still plucking away when I returned and identified the prey as a female House Sparrow. As I watched I heard a shrill incessant twitter that I thought was coming from the hawk, perhaps whistling while it worked. But no, it was the sparrow that, despite being skewered by talons and plucked, remained alive and twittering if not kicking. Ten seconds later the Collared Sparrowhawk flew away carrying its brunch which seemed to have fallen silent.

 

I’m often surprised when confronted by the small size of these hawks, particularly the males which, I suppose, this one was as it would have been no more than middleweight in the Red Wattlebird division.

 

John Layton

Holt.

Attachment: ATT00001.txt
Description: ATT00001.txt

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the Canberra Ornithologists Group mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the list contact David McDonald, list manager, phone (02) 6231 8904 or email . If you can not contact David McDonald e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU