What Bird killed Wood Pigeon ?

[nerosun 10]

Was walking on Meersbrook Road yesterday, when all of a sudden wood pigeons shot straight out of a tree. I wondered if it was me who startled them, then saw a few feathers dropping down. and when i looked up a big brown bird dropped down about 10 yards in front of me holding the pigeon in it`s claws. I crossed over not to disturb it and it started to peck the feathers off , then flew over a small hedge into a garden. No traffic or people about, and on returning about 25 mins later had a look over the hedge and there were feathers everywhere, and the brown bird was still there with a pigeon carcass stripped to the bone. what bird was the brown one ? deffo not a kestrel, too small. any suggestions.

[old tup 30]

Sounds like a buzzard by the description we had the same thing happen in our garden a couple of months ago,failing that it maybe a goshawk they are both large and powerful birds of prey!

[Gazza58 10]

Sounds like a buzzard by the description we had the same thing happen in our garden a couple of months ago,failing that it maybe a goshawk they are both large and powerful birds of prey!

 

I would have said the same as you,but doesnt the O/P say its too small to be a kestrel,if so then im stumped. cant think of owt smaller than a kestrel that would attack a pigeon.

Edited December 28, 2012 by Gazza58

[Firparnian 10]

Sparrowhawk possibly?

[jowster 10]

Sparrowhawk, we've had a few kill pigeons in the same way around the bottom of the garden

[harestone 10]

Yup, will be a female sparrowhawk, buzzards don't tend to take pigeons.

[old tup 30]

Nerosun contradicts himself firstly he says it was a large brown bird then at the end it was too small to be a kestrel,which is one of the smallest birds of prey.I think a kestrel would struggle with a wood pigeon,any ideas?.

[nerosun 10]

Sorry to be misleading , it was too big to be a kestrel. Was deffo brown in colour, probably a female Goshawk or Sparrowhawk and after looking at images of the two, was deffo a Goshawk.

[Gazza58 10]

Sorry to be misleading , it was too big to be a kestrel. Was deffo brown in colour, probably a female Goshawk or Sparrowhawk and after looking at images of the two, was deffo a Goshawk.

 

Ah,makes more sense now.

[nerosun 10]

Have just been on RSPB website and the professionals that they are gave me the answer I was looking for : Everyone who said female Sparrowhawk take a bow, because that is definately what it was.

[Jack_Russell 11]

Thanks for that, so lucky to see such a majestic bird close up like that.

I've had glimpses of a few in Graves park but not from so close a distance.

[shanes teeth 10]

Last winter there was one in the lady next doors garden.It was sat on her bush munching away for ages.It was a right mess by the time it had done.Blood and feathers everwhere.