Sparrowhawk
\nThe
Sparrowhawk (
Accipiter nisus) is a small
bird of prey in the family
Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal
raptors such as
eagles, buzzards and
harrierss.
It is a widespread species throughout the temperate and subtropical parts of the
Old World. It is mainly resident, but birds from colder regions of north Europe and Asia
migrate south for the winter, as far as North Africa and
India.
This species nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It hunts
birds in woodland or cultivated areas, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch or hedge-hops to catch its prey unaware.
This bird is a small raptor with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. The male is slate-grey above and barred reddish below. The much larger female is barred grey below. She can be confused with the similarly sized male
Goshawk, but lacks the bulk of that species. The juvenile is brown above and barred brown below. The flight is a characteristic "flap – flap – glide".
The
New World species formerly known as the
Sparrow Hawk (
Falco sparverius) is now called the
American Kestrel. The new name is preferable, since this bird is not a hawk but a
falcon.
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