Sparrowhawks hitting our Finglas garden on a daily basis now since my feeders went up mid November for BWI Garden Bird Survey, 13-01-2019
[order] Falconiformes | [family] Accipitridae | [latin] Accipiter nisus | [UK] Sparrowhawk | [FR] Epervier d'Europe | [DE] Sperber | [ES] Gavilán Vulgar | [IT] Sparviero eurasiatico | [NL] Sperwer | [IRL] Spioróg
spanwidth min.: 58 cm
spanwidth max.: 80 cm
size min.: 29 cm
size max.: 41 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 33 days
incubation max.: 35 days
fledging min.: 24 days
fledging max.: 30 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 4
eggs max.: 6
Status: Common resident, with occasional winter visitors from Continental Europe.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population has been evaluated as Secure.
Identification: A small bird of prey (raptor) with broad wings with blunt wing tips and a long tail. Small hooked bill suitable for eating meat. Tail is banded in all plumages with four or five bands. The sexes are different in size, the female is larger than the male. Sparrowhawks have barred underparts in all plumages, with the barring extending across the underwings, breast, belly and flanks. Males are bluish-grey above and often have orangey-brown barring on the breast, belly and underwing coverts; the rest of the barring is brown. Females are grey above with brown-grey barring on the underparts. Juvenile birds are dark brown on the upperparts with finely marked feathers; the underparts are coarsely and irregularly barred.
Similar Species: Goshawk, Kestrel
Call: The main call a rapid high pitched chattering, which is usually only heard in the breeding season.
Diet: Usually small birds which are taken when perched or in flight, sometimes after a long chase. Attacks with one or both feet, will pursue prey on foot. Sparrowhawks often utilize hedge rows or other cover, flying low on one side and then crossing over to other side to surprise its prey. Is a master of flying in woodland where it can fly through small gaps in branches pursuit of its prey, displaying great agility. Will use woodland edges, rides as well as any cover, especially cover that adjoins woodland. Will even pursue prey birds on foot over the ground.
Breeding: Probably the most common bird of prey in Ireland. Widespread in woodland, farmland with woods, larger parks and gardens. Nests in trees. Breeds throughout Ireland but is scarce in the west, where tree cover is low. Formally bird of woodland, it is now also found extensively in wooded farmland and will venture into urban gardens, where small birds attracted to bird feeders are taken, much to some peoples distress.
Wintering: Resident in Ireland. Can be seen throughout the country, although numbers will be low in the some parts of the west. Resident birds will be joined by wintering birds from Britain and Europe.
Where to See: Many people see these birds in their gardens, where they will be hunting on small birds. Can be difficult to spot in the countryside but will often give good views, when flying over head, where it may on 'prospecting' flights.
Physical characteristics
The Sparrowhawk is about the same size as a Kestrel and has a similarly long tail but its wings have rounded not pointed tips and are shorter as if not fully extended. Whether soaring or gliding, Sparrowhawks have a characteristic flap-flap-glide action
Habitat
Breeds and winters in woodland, particularly coniferous, and also occurs in winter in farmland and even gardens
Other details
Accipiter nisus is a widespread breeder across most of Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is large (>340,000 pairs), and underwent a large increase between 1970-1990. Although there were declines in a few countries during 1990-2000, populations were stable or increasing across most of Europe-including the key one in Russia-and the species increased slightly overall.
There are 32 000 breeding pairs in Britain with a further 11 000 in Ireland. Including non-breeders, by the end of summer the resident population will probably be around 170 000 birds. 150,000-170,000 breeding pairs widespread throughout most of Europe. The UK is a stronghold with about 34000 pairs. Russian population 140000-180000 Turkish population 3000-10000.
Feeding
The sparrowhawk is a specialist feeder, as its name suggests. It takes birds of varying sizes, from finches and sparrows, to the size of wood pigeons. It does on occasions take small rodents and other small land based prey, but birds account for well over 90% and maybe as high as 98% of their diet.
Breeding
Eggs from late April or early May in Britain and north-west Europe. Up to 2 weeks earlier in southern Europe and 2-3 weeks later in northern parts of range. The nest is build in the fork of tree, often close to trunk where 2 or 3 branches start at same level. Also on horizontal branch, usually in lower parts of main canopy. Conifers are preferred where available. Selected tree usually close to path or clearing for convenient access. A new nest is built each year, sometimes on foundation of old nest of Woodpigeon or other species, though normally close to previous nests. The nest is a loose structure of twigs with deep cup. Nest size varies with position in tree, with nests in forks built up until surface area is large enough. Twigs up to 60 cm long are used, during laying, lined with fine twigs or bark chips. The clutch size is 4-6 (3-7) and the incubation lasts 33-35 days per egg, average 39-42 days for complete clutch. The young fledge after 24-30 days, males before females.
Migration
Migratory in northernmost parts of Europe and in most of Asia. Partially migratory in Central Europe. Sedentary in South of range. Various Central European countries receive Northern migrants, some of their breeding birds possibly migrating further South, reaching Mediterranean countries. Most migration actually from North-East to South-West. Few migrants reach Africa, although some birds winter in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, occasionally South to Kenya and Tanzania. Siberian population winters in South and South-East Asia.