Eye of Sauron
Back garden Sparrowhawk, March 2019.
The maturity of a male Sparrowhawk can be gauged by eye colour.
Males have orange Irises compared with the yellow of females and yearlings but with increased maturity, there may also be a red colouration.
This male has a quite red rim which implies that he is very mature.
His back is also blue/grey rather than just grey - another sign of maturity. Young males have a few residual white back feathers - none here!
Overall, this is a veteran male - quite a feat, given that male Sparrowhawks must have a successful hunt every 48 hours or risk starvation.
Eye of Sauron
Back garden Sparrowhawk, March 2019.
The maturity of a male Sparrowhawk can be gauged by eye colour.
Males have orange Irises compared with the yellow of females and yearlings but with increased maturity, there may also be a red colouration.
This male has a quite red rim which implies that he is very mature.
His back is also blue/grey rather than just grey - another sign of maturity. Young males have a few residual white back feathers - none here!
Overall, this is a veteran male - quite a feat, given that male Sparrowhawks must have a successful hunt every 48 hours or risk starvation.