![]() ![]() The natural lifespan of a Sparrowhawk is five to seven years however, few live more than three or four years. This and all other birds of prey are now fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, under which it is an offence to kill, injure or take adult birds or their eggs or destroy anest that is in use. ConservationĪlthough all other birds of prey have been protected by law in Britain since 1954, the sparrowhawk did not receive legal protection until 1961. They stand upon the victim, spreading their wings and tail whether this is to gain extra stability as they tug chunks from the carcass or to prevent other birds of prey from seeing that they have achieved a kill is not clear. Sparrowhawks consume their prey either on the ground or on a fence post or other stable low platform. It is ground-feeding birds, particularly, that have greatest difficulty escaping when a Sparrowhawk swoops upon them we have even seen songbirds seized by a Sparrowhawk while they were eating seeds that we have put out for them, giving a whole new meaning to the term bird table! Owners of racing pigeons have for many years considered the Sparrowhawk a serious menace however, research evidence does not support the claims that a significant number of pigeons are taken by these little hawks. ![]() (The common name of this bird of prey is an indication of the kinds of birds thhey tend to prey upon, and they are thought to have been a major contributor to the decline of Tree Sparrows, in particular, in recent years however, Sparrowhawks are almost certainly only one of the many cause of the problem.) Small mammals also feature occasionally in the diet of Sparrowhawks, and then their strategy is to skim very low over short-cropped meadows until they spot a vole, mouse or shrew they they swerve sharply and dive upon their quarry. ![]() Once they spot a potential victim they are very determined, sometimes crashing through thorny hedges and suffering mortal damage to themselves. The Sparrowhawk preys on small birds by skimming along the tops of hedgerows and suddenly dropping on a victim upon. Typically five white eggs, blotched with red-brown, are laid in a flattish nest made from twigs. Sparrowhawks nest in trees or sometimes on cliff ledges. Although not seen very often if at all by most of us, Sparrowhawks are quite common birds of woodland and open country. These predatory birds are resident throughout most of southern and central Europe, including Britain and Ireland. The call of a Sparrowhawk is a distinctive 'ke-ke-ke-ke'. In many respects the Sparrowhawk is similar to a Kestrel but somewhat smaller however, Kestrels hover and Sparrowhawks do not, so if you see them hunting for food you will know immediately which is which. The typical wingspan of a male is 60 to 65cm, while the larger female has a wingspan somewhere between 70 and 80cm. There is usually an almost entirely white spot on the back of the neck. The male, at typically 30cm long, is some 7cm shorter than the female and has slate grey back and upper wing plumage (the female is more brown-grey). The Sparrowhawk, a resident in Britain, is a small, fast-moving member of the falcon family. Identification - Distribution - Lifecycle - Food - Predators - Reference Sources Phylum: Chordata - Class: Aves - Order: Accipitriformes - Family: Accipitridae ![]()
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