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Sparrow Hawk - Accipiter nisus

A Common bird of prey in woodlands throughout Europe and northern Asia, it is often seen hovering high over its intended prey in open country and at roadside verges. Sparrow Hawk, common name for about 16 of the smaller Eurasian members of a large (48 species) hawk genus. Common in the British Isles, where it inhabits woodlands and farm country, feeding principally on small birds. The male ♂ is about 28cm (11in) long, and the female ♀ 38cm (15in) long with a wing span of 60-80cm (23-32in). The male feathers are dark on the top and light brown on the breast while the female breast is almost fully white. Breeds throughout the North America and Europe and Asia, migrating farther south for the winter.

Lives in more open areas and builds its nest in hollow trees usually in coniferous woodland. It's food consists of insects, small mammals, birds, spiders, reptiles, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and caterpillars using its strong talons to catch it's prey. Wings are rather pointed, the tail is long and heavily banded. Flight consists of series of short wing strokes followed by a glide. While the male hunts mostly sparrows and tits, the larger female often feeds on larger prey like starlings or thrushes. Occasionally the sparrow-hawk also eats mice or large insects. The bill is blue, furnished with bristles at the base, which overhang the nostrils, eyes are bright orange

Lays 4-6 brown-speckled eggs brooded for about 5 weeks. Hatchlings are fed by the female for about a month with food the male brings to the nest. Once fledged they return to the nest at night. In China the sparrow-hawk was associated with Autumn whilst in ancient Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire it was a symbol of the powers of the Sun. Sparrow hawks belong to the genus Accipiter of the family Accipitridae, order Falconiformes.

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