- Lifespan
- 12–20 years in the wild; one individual recorded at over 20 years old
- Size & Weight
- 48–61 cm, wingspan 89–105 cm; females 700–1,000 g, males 330–680 g
- Habitat
- Mature coniferous and mixed woodlands, particularly in upland and forest regions where they can hunt in open spaces nearby.
- UK Distribution
- Resident breeder in Scotland and northern England, with smaller populations in Wales and southern uplands; range has expanded southward since recolonisation in the 1970s–1980s following persecution decline.
- Diet
- Specialist predator of medium-sized birds; hunts with speed and agility through woodland, ambushing prey in swift, low-level pursuits.
- Prey
- Wood pigeons, jays, crows, pheasants, partridges, woodcock, and smaller birds up to the size of grouse
- Predators
- Golden eagles (chicks and juveniles); egg predation by corvids; human persecution historically and occasionally currently
- Mating Season
- February to July
- Breeding
- Clutch size 3–4 eggs; incubation period 36–38 days; fledging period 35–41 days; typically one brood per year
- Behaviour
- Highly territorial and aggressive during breeding season; pairs often remain together year-round and reuse nest sites. Hunts by stealth, flying low through trees with remarkable manoeuvrability, and will defend territory vigorously against other raptors.