Not for the squeamish – this picture of a male Sparrowhawk was taken towards the end of a struggle which lasted about 25 minutes. The Sparrowhawk had caught a live woodpigeon which had been feeding on the ground. The pigeon weighs considerably more than Hawk which unlike large carnivores – cannot kill its prey by suffocation. It just starts to pluck it and then eat it alive by tearing off meat from the breast area. So the poor victim takes a long time to die.
A little unusual as the Sparrowhawk usually kills songbirds and other prey which is much smaller. Hmmm…..hope I have not put you off your next meal!
Nature raw in tooth and claw.