Pigeon chased by falcon

I just happened to be filming parakeets in my parents' garden in Surrey (the green birds in the centre of the shot). Out of nowhere a hawk flashed in and went for the wood pigeon!!! I think it's a peregrin falcon, but if you know better I'd be glad to hear it!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• wood
• pigeon
• attacked
• parakeets
• hawk
• falcon

[pinoyfourlyf]

Awesome footage. There are wild parakeets in your area?

[donkmeister]

@pinoyfourlyf Yes, they are wild, although they aren't native to the country... Rumour has it that a small number of parakeets escaped from captivity a couple of decades ago and have been breeding ever since. They're spreading, too! They first appeared in Surrey (where this was filmed), but you get them all over the South-East of England now. There are literally tens of thousands of them now!!!

[pinoyfourlyf]

@donkmeister @donkmeister Wow that is interesting. Are the parakeets the budgie type?

[donkmeister]

@pinoyfourlyf They are rose-ringed parakeets, I've found out they are sometimes referred to over here as either "Twickenham Parakeets" or "Kingstone Parakeets".

[SirianKings]

Sounds like an accipiter scream.

[donkmeister]

Thanks for the suggestion. You're the second person now who's said it could be an accipiter. I've just looked at the RSPB website and the Goshawk looks a likely candidate in terms of diet, size and marking... only 400 pairs in the UK, so quite rare too! The garden backs on to farms and fields. There is plenty for such a bird to eat round there, my parents' cat is always bringing back little treats and there are countless wood pigeons and parakeets as well as smaller birds.

[iamthegame09]

Brillian footage! :) Did it get it? All I could see was a load of feathers but couldn't tell for sure :)

[jazzyfl1]

It's not a falcon but a Hawk.. Big Diff.... but stil good video.

[aiwayamaha]

Great video. And yes that would be a Sparrow Hawk. A common garden predator to all birds. I've never seen one hunt / kill so good video.

[GerbilEssences]

Terrific footage! So lucky to be filming then :) Any chance you could slow it down 1/2 or 1/4 speed and upload?

[harrishawker2]

Its a Female Sparrow Hawk, known as a spar!!! i know cos i fly one!!!