Species Guide | Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipter nisus)
APPEARANCE
Eurasian Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey, with piercing yellow eyes and yellow legs and talons. Females and juveniles have grey-brown backs and pale chests and underparts with brown barring. Adult males are more blue-grey on their backs, orangey-brown underparts with brown barring. Mature females are noticeably bigger than the males of the species by up to 25%. Both males and females have a distinctive ‘flap-flap-glide’ flight pattern. They can also be identified in flight by their T-shaped profile with very square tails and blunt wing tips.
Diet
Sparrowhawks prey on small birds, including finches, tits, and thrushes. They are ambush hunters, sitting in trees, waiting patiently, and then swooping down when their prey is unaware. Woodland predators by nature, but are equally at home visiting gardens where bird feeders make for easy prey.
HABITAT
Their preference is broadleaf, coniferous, and scrub environments where they can hide amongst the foliage. However they have pretty much adapted to all environments including urban areas, but with the exception of higher ground in the Scottish Highlands.
Note that this map is for a rough illustration of animal distribution across the UK1, whereby light green indicates established populations.
Behavior
As ambush predators, Sparrowhawks can be difficult to spot, as they will often remain hidden in dense foliage for long periods. You might hear their distinctive call as they alert others of their presence. Also, look out for piles of feathers on the ground, a tell-tale sign that a Sparrowhawk might recently have eaten a meal there!
Sparrowhawk Call:
Anthony McGeehan, xeno-canto.org
You might also spot them in the Spring when males perform dives and climbs to impress females. Mating pairs both contribute to the construction of a nest, which is made low-down in the tree canopy. They are simple constructions made from twigs and flakes of bark. Sparrowhawks have a single brood each year. Four to Five eggs are typically laid in mid-May and are incubated by the female for just over a month. During this period, the male is responsible for gathering food, which continues for the majority of time; even after the eggs hatch. The nestlings are fully fledged after a further month.
STATS
| Wing Length2 | 190-240 mm |
| Body Weight3 | 133-297 grams |
| Longevity | 4 Years |
Did You Know? The oldest recorded wild Sparrowhawk lived to be over 17 years old!
NATURAL PREDATORS
As small birds of prey, Sparrowhawks are vulnerable to predation by larger raptors, including Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Goshawks, and Golden Eagles, as well as some mammals such as Pine Martens.
Conservation Status
Sparrowhawk numbers were declining severely during the 1950s and 60s due to the extensive use of organochlorine pesticides4. Populations have since recovered, and the Sparrowhawk is now one of the most widespread birds of prey in the British Isles. They are still classified as an Amber UK species but are registered as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from a global viewpoint.
U.K.
Conservation Status
Global
Conservation Status
References
- Population data based on BTO assessment
- Featherbase
- RSPB
- Newton, I. (2013) Organochlorine pesticides and birds. British Birds 106: 189–205.
