Hi Greg,
I agree, definitely Sparrowhawk for the reasons you give. The
apparent middle toe length could be slightly foreshortened by the
photo angle; the legs are very slender; the hawk is small against the
honeyeater prey. We can't see the tail tip to judge relative lengths
of central and outer rectrices (or the width of the rectrices); the
feathers themselves would of course have rounded tips. If there was a
prey transfer male to female, the accompanying vocalisations would
have been diagnostic, as the male food-call (and female begging
calls) of Brown Goshawk and Sparrowhawk are quite different.
I have often seen Goshawks and Sparrowhawks breeding in the same
general area, and occasionally seen the two species interacting.
Cheers,
Steve
At 10:49 PM 8/12/11, Greg & Val Clancy wrote:
Hi Chris,
I am confident that it is an adult Collared Sparrowhawk because:
The eyebrow ridge is not conspicuous, the legs are very thin and
the central toe is very long.
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Wildlife Guide
Coutts Crossing
NSW
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