Hovering Sparrowhawk or Kestrel what's the difference?

John_Rambo

The title says it all. I see hovering falcon/hawks where I swim (Bull island, causeway end, Dublin). How do I tell what it is? They are usually silhouetted against a bright sky.

Thanks in advance.

Mickeroo

A kestrel can hover without a headwind by flapping its wings. Its the only bird that can do this outside of humming birds if i'm not mistaken??

John_Rambo

That's interesting. It's rare that there's not a breeze blowing on the coast, but I have been there when there's barely any wind and they are there, hovering away. Thanks a for you're input Mickeroo. Kestrels they are!

whyulittle

I've seen Buzzards do it plenty of times as well, but not as effortlessly as Kestrels.

More than likely Kestrels you've seen though OP.

John_Rambo

whyulittle wrote: »

I've seen Buzzards do it plenty of times as well, but not as effortlessly as Kestrels.

More than likely Kestrels you've seen though OP.

Agreed, deffo not a Buzzard, these Kestrels are on the causeway hovering about twenty metres or less from the road, they only move on if you stop the car or if a walker walks by.

Kess73

John_Rambo wrote: »

Agreed, deffo not a Buzzard, these Kestrels are on the causeway hovering about twenty metres or less from the road, they only move on if you stop the car or if a walker walks by.

Kestrel. No doubt at all in my mind. They are the only native bird in Ireland that can hover, and they are very common by roads as they watch for potential prey.

1squidge

whyulittle wrote: »

I've seen Buzzards do it plenty of times as well, but not as effortlessly as Kestrels.

More than likely Kestrels you've seen though OP.

Likewise, i was watching a Buzzard hovering over some grassland yesterday. Not as elegant as a Kestrel though.

I would go with a Kestrel as well.

Gerard.

Half-cocked

There is a resident pair of kestrels that hunt along the Bull Island causeway, here's one of them:

Desmo

Kess73 wrote: »

Kestrel. No doubt at all in my mind. They are the only native bird in Ireland that can hover, and they are very common by roads as they watch for potential prey.

They are the only ones to really do it properly alright but kingfishers and short eared owls can hover too. I saw one do it at Kilcoole at the weekend (SE owl)
and it was a pretty decent hover even if not quite as cool as the way kestrels do it. The one on Bull Island is a kestrel alright.

Des

ThunderCat

Also OP Sparrowhawks have a very distinct flight pattern with regards their wingbeats. 2 beats of the wing and then they glide for a moment if im not mistaken, so that would give them away should you only see a birds sillouette against a bright sky. In your case though, as others have said, it's a Kestrel.

swifts need our help!

I think Buzzards need a head wind to hover? 20m away they would be a big bird with obvious colours under their wings

Buzzard hovering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wXA2Eqvx2k

Kestrel hovering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuxdddIgii0

trebor28

anyone ever see a Spotted flycatcher hover?

they are quite adept.

they are nesting pretty much outside my door, and have seen them come in a few times and hover almost like a hummingbird.

hopefully when the eggs hatch and they are coming and going with food ill be able to get a few good snaps of them at it.

anybody know how long they might take before hatching?

swifts need our help!

swifts can hover for a few seconds