I agree, it is rather pointless to decide either way on that photo. But fine to try. There might just have been enough showing. It is certainly one of those
2. You can call it one of those and be half certain you are right. It may have been possible to decide if you spent more time looking at it, rather than taking a photo. Maybe if you saw it fly away, then tail shape is the best clue. Maybe there is just enough
showing of the tail tip to suggest it is rounded rather than notched.
Philip
From: Canberrabirds [
On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb via Canberrabirds
Sent: Sunday, 27 October, 2024 4:59 PM
To: 'Dr David Rosalky'; ; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Unknown raptor
There might be other ideas, but my view is that the female sparrowhawk and male goshawk are very similar to one another, for example both have a weaker bill and less heavy brow than in the typical female
goshawk. Even with good photos the FS and MG can be difficult to distinguish without a clear view of those toes. I think the bill on this bird puts it in the FS/MG category. Beyond that I don’t think the bird can be definitely identified from Rob’s photo.
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Dr David Rosalky via Canberrabirds
Sent: Sunday, 27 October 2024 4:05 PM
To: ; 'Canberra Birds' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Unknown raptor
My guess is a Brown Goshawk
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of regeraghty--- via Canberrabirds
Sent: Sunday, 27 October 2024 12:56 PM
To: Canberra Birds <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Unknown raptor
While counting birds yesterday for the Blitz, I spotted a raptor in a treetop a long way off which was being harassed by Dusky Woodswallows. The folks at ABID are undecided, but suggested possibly a Brown Goshawk. I realise that the attached
photo isn’t great, but it was taken at a considerable distance and the bird was backlit by the sky. I’ve done what I can to get data out of the raw, but the resolution is low. I thought maybe a Collared Sparrowhawk. It was on Corin Road on the dam (western)
side of the highest point, in an area where the northern side of the road was burned in the 2019 fire and the southern side wasn’t. There’s a small waterfall in the area.
Does anyone have any thoughts, please? It may be that there’s just not enough detail in the image to identify it.
