Accipiter fasciatus

2 Brown Goshawk at West Wodonga, VIC

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Identification history

Accipiter fasciatus	27 Nov 2021	Liam.m
Accipiter cirrocephalus	13 Aug 2020	ChrisAllen
Accipiter cirrocephalus	13 Aug 2020	Michelleco

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User's notes

Collared Sparrowhawk with the evidence of it's prey, a Crested pigeon, on it's talons. It dropped the dead pigeon from the tree, a Casuarina, and another Collared Sparrowhawk flew in.

5 comments

ChrisAllen wrote:

27 Nov 2021

@Liam.m what makes you think it's a brown goshawk instead of a collared sparrow?

Liam.m wrote:

29 Nov 2021

I just don't really get a sparrowhawk vibe from this image. The head shape is wrong for sparrowhawk, and it has more of a 'frown' than the 'glare' typical of sparrowhawks. The build is just a better fit for Goshawk. Accipiter fasciatus (Brown Goshawk) This bird is definitely a Goshawk too, so the fact that they were together suggests Goshawk. (sorry for the delayed reply)

ChrisAllen wrote:

29 Nov 2021

I was going off the size of the other bird, being similar to the crested pigeon in size and Michelle's identification from the sighting. They are hard species to pick between without seeing them first hand.

Liam.m wrote:

29 Nov 2021

They can be, but I’m confident they’re goshawks. @natureguy opinion please.

natureguy wrote:

30 Nov 2021

I agree with Liam's comments - glaring facial expression as opposed to stare of Sparrowhawk, also tail seems rounded not square though I can't see this super well. The middle toe is also not noticeably longer that would be typical in Sparrowhawk. Male Goshawks can also be quite small, well within the size overlap between the larger female Sparrowhawk.

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