poontang Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 9 hours ago, Dougy said: A small cat would weigh around 5 lb, a large prey for a sparrowhawk would be something in the region of 1.25lb. So It would be a very fit female (and a freak of nature) to be able to carry a cat, unless it was a very young kitten. I wouldn't underestimate the strength and power of a hungry raptor. I was out photographing hares last year when a male Marsh Harrier attacked a fully grown hare. Whether it would have managed to take off with it I don't know as it was attacked by crows and eventually had to abandon its prey. It did however have it off the ground on a few occasions. A Marsh Harrier weighs about 1lb , a hare around 7lbs. I did manage to grab a quick shot but it was so far off it was of no use so I watched the action unfold through bino's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 We have regular visits from a female sparrowhawk and I've personally witnessed it take a squirrel from inside a large cedar with ease. I would say she'd be big enough and powerful enough to take my son's very small cat which is about 50% bigger than a squirrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClemFandango Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 (edited) A sparrowhawk weighs at most 350g. They ain't carrying a cat away. An adult grey squirrel will be 400-600g ish. More likely you have a Goshawk at your bird table. Edited April 9, 2018 by ClemFandango Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 The thought of a Sparrowhawk carrying even a kitten is a bit far fetched - I had one many years ago and anything much bigger than a Starling was pushing it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 (edited) I have a female sparrowhawk which lives in and around my wood. I disturbed her one morning as she was about to kill and pluck a woodpigeon. Startled she took off and actually flew a yard or two with the still flapping pigeon in her claws, but unable to get any height she dropped it and then the pigeon flew off, short of a whole pile of feathers. I still think female goshawk and small cat/kitten. I witnessed a peregrin hit a woodie way up about 400ft in the sky. Well, the huge cloud of feathers drew my attention. The hawk came down with wings arced like a parachute, holding the pigeon. It had just thought about how to cook it, when a red kite swept in and knocked it clean off the carcase. The peregrin flew onto a small hut nearby and protested loudly. The kite was just about to feast when it was knocked for six by a buzzard and the vocal arguing went on for some time but the buzzard won the day. Edited April 9, 2018 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westward Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 2 hours ago, bruno22rf said: The thought of a Sparrowhawk carrying even a kitten is a bit far fetched - I had one many years ago and anything much bigger than a Starling was pushing it . Well I beg to differ. We have witnessed our local female sparrowhawk take one pigeon and 3 collared doves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted April 9, 2018 Report Share Posted April 9, 2018 I have seen a Sparrow Hawk carry a dead pigeon across a field to the far hedge, about 100 yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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