Sparrow Hawk

We see sparrow hawks attack birds in our garden occasionally, but usually they fly off with their kill, especially when it's a small bird. This time I was able to capture the event on camera when the sparrow hawk began to eat its meal in the garden where the kill took place. This time it was pigeon who provided the breakfast for this bird of prey. Judging by its size, I suspect this is a female hawk. 

This kill is one of the more gruesome aspects of living on the fringes of a small town, close to woods, where we try to nurture wildlife, including birds and hedgehogs, that make their homes in this semi-rural environment and visit our garden.