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Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

1 photo

1 photographer

·Common · 1 pts

Dashing predator of garden birds; barred underparts on male.

Species Profile

Green List (UK); least concern globally; legally protected under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Lifespan: 12 years in the wild; maximum recorded 17–18 years
Size & Weight: 28–35 cm, wingspan 55–70 cm; females 150–260 g, males 110–150 g
Habitat: Woodland, copses, hedgerows, and gardens with nearby open ground for hunting, from lowland farms to upland forests.
UK Distribution: Year-round resident throughout the UK, breeding in most regions; population boosted by continental migrants in autumn and winter, particularly in southern areas.
Diet: Specialized bird hunter, taking small to medium birds in fast, agile flight pursuits through dense vegetation.
Prey: Blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, thrushes, dunnocks, finches, and other birds 20–300 g; occasionally takes small mammals and insects.
Predators: Golden eagles, goshawks, and larger raptors; eggs and chicks vulnerable to corvids and buzzards; humans historically (now protected).
Mating Season: March to July
Breeding: Clutch of 4–5 eggs, incubation 32–35 days, single brood per year; young fledge at 27–30 days.
Behaviour: Highly agile hunter, using surprise tactics and low-level flight to ambush prey; solitary and territorial outside breeding season. Males are noticeably smaller than females and hunt smaller birds. Females perform dramatic 'sky-dancing' displays during courtship.

Did You Know?

•Their population crashed in the 1950s–70s due to organochlorine pesticide accumulation in the food chain (DDT, dieldrin); numbers have recovered significantly since the ban on these chemicals.
•The female is substantially larger than the male, allowing the pair to hunt different-sized prey and reduce competition.
•Sparrowhawks can execute 90-degree turns mid-flight and weave through dense branches at high speed, making them the most manoeuvrable UK raptors.
•Males perform a dramatic roller-coaster display flight, climbing steeply and diving repeatedly with loud 'kee-kee-kee' calls to attract females.
•Garden bird populations may show seasonal fluctuations linked to sparrowhawk predation pressure, particularly during breeding and post-fledging periods.

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Shutter

1/200ss

ISO Range

200

Aperture

f/f/5

Focal Length

180mm

🐦 Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Bird