Birds of prey in flight have a reputation for being very tough to identify. However, follow these guidelines and you have a good chance of telling these five larger species apart. Note photos are not to scale.

This month’s challenge is all about the identification of long-legged birds

Scourge of the bird feeder and a master of ‘shock and awe’ assassinations, the sparrowhawk pursues its quarry with such tenacity and unpredictability that it often blindsides its prey

Check your answers against our explanations. Remember, there are no ‘trick’ birds or extreme rarities among these...

It may appear lethargic, but no one could argue with the hunting prowess of the common buzzard when it transforms into a surging missile intent on an unsuspecting victim

PHOTOS, LETTERS, TWEETS, QUESTIONS – HAVE YOUR SAY