Fw: Collared Sparrowhawk unusual prey item

Comment from Stephen Debus… Hi Shirley, My first reaction is that the accipiter was more likely to have been a Brown Goshawk, as they can be difficult to tell apart if the tail is moulting or obscured. Also, there is no information on how big/old the rabbit was, but presumably a juvenile or immature. Male Brown Goshawks can take young rabbits (and female Goshawks fairly large rabbits), but a newly emerged kitten would be within a female Sparrowhawk’s capability too. Brown Goshawks occasionally scavenge, but not Sparrowhawks. Best wishes for Christmas and 2014, Steve —– Original Message —– From: “Shirley Cook” <shirleycook@skymesh.com.au> To: “Stephen Debus” <sdebus@une.edu.au> Sent: Monday, December 23, 2013 7:09 AM Subject: Fw: [Birding-Aus] Collared Sparrowhawk unusual prey item > FYI > > Happy Christmas to you and Sofia > > love > Shirley > > —– Original Message —– > From: “John Leonard” <calyptorhynchus@gmail.com> > To: <canberrabirds@canberrabirds.org.au>; <birding-aus@vicnet.net.au> > Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2013 8:13 PM > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Collared Sparrowhawk unusual prey item > > > This evening on Red Hill, ACT, I observed a female Collared Sparrowhawk > perched in a tree with the remains of a rabbit, specifically it’s > hindquarters and rear legs in its talons. Presumably this was scavenged, > but I never thought of this as a small accipiter prey item. > > John Leonard > > —– > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG – www.avg.com > Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3658/6940 – Release Date: 12/21/13 > >