NeilA wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 11:49 am
Do sparrow hawks pull secondary flights in the way peregrine do when they attempt a kill
Any I have killed by a sparrowhawk in the past I have not seen the secondary missing
I went training and a hen returned with missing secondary’s
I also noticed they hadn’t scoffed half the grub I left for them and this is normally cleared instantly
I had a job so I couldn’t get straight back but arrived about 90 mins after to find a big female sparrow hawk perched next to my stock aviary
So i thought did she make a grab for one as they landed but just don’t recall seeing one without flights from an attack in the garden before
BOP are aiming to grab the birds back when attacking. Nature has made the secondary flights & tail feathers the easiest to pull free for that reason. Birds are more likely to lose feathers when attacked by a Peregrine than a Sparrowhawk as one kills in flight and the another mainly on the ground.
Pigeons that return with secondary flights or tail feathers missing are more likely have been attacked by a Peregrine.
NeilA wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 11:49 am
Do sparrow hawks pull secondary flights in the way peregrine do when they attempt a kill
Any I have killed by a sparrowhawk in the past I have not seen the secondary missing
I went training and a hen returned with missing secondary’s
I also noticed they hadn’t scoffed half the grub I left for them and this is normally cleared instantly
I had a job so I couldn’t get straight back but arrived about 90 mins after to find a big female sparrow hawk perched next to my stock aviary
So i thought did she make a grab for one as they landed but just don’t recall seeing one without flights from an attack in the garden before
If the sparrowhawk has tried to knock one out of the air they 100% can lose secondarys. Had it happen many times over the years. If sparrowhawk was sitting there I'd be very confident that's what's happened Neil. I've heard some people say sparrowhawks don't knock or try to knock pigeons out of the air. They do.
NeilA wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 11:49 am
Do sparrow hawks pull secondary flights in the way peregrine do when they attempt a kill
Any I have killed by a sparrowhawk in the past I have not seen the secondary missing
I went training and a hen returned with missing secondary’s
I also noticed they hadn’t scoffed half the grub I left for them and this is normally cleared instantly
I had a job so I couldn’t get straight back but arrived about 90 mins after to find a big female sparrow hawk perched next to my stock aviary
So i thought did she make a grab for one as they landed but just don’t recall seeing one without flights from an attack in the garden before
NeilA wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:19 pm
Goose I can remember about 12 years ago I had never seen a BOP in nature
Something hit my cocks and they went up like a shot
When I looked further the bop had circled them putting them in a tight ball
People said to me that’s a peregrine but then when I looked into I was sure it was a sparrow hawk but a big bugger by the wing patten
I lost a decent cock that day
Do you think I was right or as others say that’s the habit is a peregrine not a sparrow hawk
If you say the sparrowhawk was sitting close by and they hadn't cleared their food as they usually would I'd bet money the sparrowhawk has hit them pigeons as they've circled the loft to land. I've never seen a sparrowhawk hit pigeons while at exercise, I've seen them have the odd go but I'd say they know they can't catch them while at exercise. However I've seen it literally dozens of time particularly this time of year, when pigeons are taking off or landing the hen sparrowhawk will definitely knock them out the air
NeilA wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:19 pm
Goose I can remember about 12 years ago I had never seen a BOP in nature
Something hit my cocks and they went up like a shot
When I looked further the bop had circled them putting them in a tight ball
People said to me that’s a peregrine but then when I looked into I was sure it was a sparrow hawk but a big bugger by the wing patten
I lost a decent cock that day
Do you think I was right or as others say that’s the habit is a peregrine not a sparrow hawk
If you say the sparrowhawk was sitting close by and they hadn't cleared their food as they usually would I'd bet money the sparrowhawk has hit them pigeons as they've circled the loft to land. I've never seen a sparrowhawk hit pigeons while at exercise, I've seen them have the odd go but I'd say they know they can't catch them while at exercise. However I've seen it literally dozens of time particularly this time of year, when pigeons are taking off or landing the hen sparrowhawk will definitely knock them out the air
That's all iv ever seen as well pal ,,
Just had peregrine go across it didn't even look at the hens exercising.
I personally don't like clear sky's for training n today it's s east wind with a milky bottom sky ,sounds daft I like 80 percent plus cloud now for road training.
Anthony webster wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:32 pm
I personally don't like clear sky's for training n today it's s east wind with a milky bottom sky ,sounds daft I like 80 percent plus cloud now for road training.
Not sure how long the hens took mate as I wasn’t home
Cocks tonight went like rockets didn’t even turn
Not sure where they went though as it took 24 min for 17 miles so need to trim that but it’s the first one out of the way
One thing I noticed with these celibacy pigeons s today was the aggression constant fighting even in the van I had to stop and cover the basket even then the wattles are pink where they carried on
Much more violent than I every remember my widowhood cocks so that’s a concern going forward
Will go again tomorrow through to Sunday as I think the forecast is back to thick cloud and a bit hit and miss when it’s light and when it’s thick
They should settle down pal at least you made a start pal .
so need to trim that but it’s the first one out of the way