OTHER NAMES: Sparrow-hawk, Sparrowhawk
Latin Etymology: Accipiter ("to grasp") nisus (from a figure from Greek myth turned into a hawk)
Adult male Eurasian Sparrowhawk (subspecies A. n. nisus) in Geddington, Northants - April 2018
Weight: 110-342g / Length: 29-41cm / Wingspan: 59-80cm
UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Despite being one of the UKs commonest raptors, the Sparrowhawk can be slightly trickier to see than most - unlike the other commoner British raptors (Buzzard and Kestrel) it is an aerial hunter which catches other birds, as opposed to mainly going for ground based prey. This means it is often seen at high speed in fleeting glimpses compared to soaring or hovering. That being said, it can often be seen wheeling across more open areas in search of prey, or if you are very lucky, landing on a branch.
Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Accipiter
Subspecies: A. n. granti, A. n. nisus, A. n. wolterstorffi, A. n. punicus, A. n. nisosimilis, A. n. melaschistos
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread and fairly common resident (35000 pairs)
- A common but somewhat shy resident, mostly seen in Geddington. Also seen at Rutland Water and Rainham Marshes.
- TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: A single bird seen from the train in the countryside
Further Information: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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