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Post by accipiter on Aug 24, 2022 13:36:49 GMT
Rather than dodge from one title heading to the other, and to make sure you saw the following I’ve chosen to answer your comments in one place. In reference to heatstroke, I have an electric fan within my make shift hide, so the problem lies in my cramped position rather than the hot weather. How can I put it; I need a bigger hide with full mod cons. The Great Spotted woodpecker encounter Like you I have seen Great Spotted Woodpeckers freeze on my feeders too, but I’ve never seen one strike the pose this bird adopted. How can I explain it, stretching its body profile out thinly vertically against the upright branch with its head and bill held straight up towards the sky. I presume in an effort to become the very thin branch it was hanging on. It maintained this position for a full ten minutes before flying away. I should also add the oak tree stands on its own with its branches spread out in full view against the pale blue sky for all to see, making the whole spectacle quite a sight. In regard to your two sparrow hawk photos my best guess is as I first stated the first photo being female the second photo male. However, there can be much variation in size and plumage between the sexes over lapping in both cases in fact, I’ve seen ones with totally black backs not to mention the adult male that never didn’t obtain the blueish coat at 6 years old. To add to this, old females can be quite easily mistaken for males, so much so Jack Mavrogordato the famous falconer got it wrong after training and hunting with sparrow hawks. In fact, in some cases taking biometric measurements cannot be ruled out. I like to clearly see the legs and feet especially the depth from front to back of the leg which is often impossible to tell from a photo but with nothing to compare the size with so this too is often impossibly; which leaves one with the best guess. Alan |
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Post by accipiter on Aug 25, 2022 6:06:25 GMT
On second thoughts in reference to the previous post, I can only say forget the body size and plumage in the first instance and try and get a good look at its leg size as the difference between the two sexes is self-evident in real life as opposed to a photo. That reminds me in the early days I use to take measurements of sparrow hawks found on gamekeepers’ gibbets when they weren’t looking.
Mean size as follows – male leg from front to back 3 sixtieths’ middle toe 1 and seven sixtieths. Female leg from front to back 1 quarter of an inch, middle toe 1 and nine sixtieths. I didn’t have any vernier calipers then I just used an adjustable spanner and ruler with which I measured the gap between the jaws of the spanner after first using it of the birds, the same technique was used for measuring their eggs. On the face of it the measurements between the sexes doesn’t look that great just 2 mm but in real life it looks very impressive believe me.
Now what I’m going to say next isn’t connected in anyway with sparrow hawks or birding but you may find it interesting. I was told years ago by real old country folk to always carry three things when out walking, a piece of string, penknife, and a coin, preferably a shilling. Quite what the shilling was for I never could work out. If anyone does know then perhaps, they would let me know as I wouldn’t like to head for the finale round up without knowing.
Alan
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Post by rowanberry on Aug 25, 2022 19:21:13 GMT
Thank you for that info, Accipiter! I think I'll just have to take it on faith when it comes to determining gender of sparrowhawks it would seem. As mathematically challenged as I am, I don't think I'd ever work out all those measurements.  No matter which they are, they are beautiful birds and I always love seeing them! |
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Post by accipiter on Aug 26, 2022 18:26:49 GMT
Thank you for that info, Accipiter! I think I'll just have to take it on faith when it comes to determining gender of sparrowhawks it would seem. As mathematically challenged as I am, I don't think I'd ever work out all those measurements. No matter which they are, they are beautiful birds and I always love seeing them! I only hope I haven’t made it sound more difficult than it actually is, or indeed sound patronising in my tone of speech. However, having explained in most cases the rule of thumb still applies, females are larger about the size of a feral pigeon, males about the size of a mistle thrush. But here comes the rub, e.g., some males cover the eggs as in incubating, even though they don’t have a brood patch, not to mention feeding the young chicks contradictory to what is normally the case. In these cases, I suspect the individual’s temperament is at play. In my experience Its only by observing the breeding behaviour of hundreds of pairs in many locations that this is seen. But at the end of the day (how I hate that expression) the status que still remains, further to that its best to enjoy watching these birds for what they are; blooming beautiful. I’ll end by saying I only hope no one posts a photo of a little owl in an effort to know the difference in plumage between the sexes, because on the whole there isn’t any. Some say males have whiter faces but unfortunately not always. As for the difference in size forget as it amounts to just a few mm, so small this cannot be assessed in the field only by taking biometric measurements. Yes, you’ve guests it, I’ve done that too at many a gibbet but only when the gamekeepers weren’t about strutting along like peacocks with the obligatory shot gun tucked under the arm. |
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Post by accipiter on Aug 31, 2022 16:08:53 GMT
Further to the previous post and briefly mentioned in bird of the day a couple of juvenile sparrow hawks were chasing each other when they suddenly changed direction and sat just in front of the hide by the bird feeders. At first, they sat with their backs facing me their tails hiding their legs, nonetheless I had my best guess on the sex of these two as one was clearly larger than the other something I’ve seen quite a few times.
However, guessing isn’t such a good idea as I’m about to explain bearing in mind I’ve been watching the breeding behaviour of sparrow hawks from the age of ten. Consequently, I’ve seen literally thousands of juveniles at nest sites, but guess what my best guess was wrong on this occasion too. As it turned out to be a perfect example of overlap in size between the sexes, which I could clearly see by the difference in size of their legs and feet as they turned facing me; a case of small female large male. What more can I say other than no one’ is infallible no matter how experienced they may be.
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