Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Aves › Accipitriformes › Accipitridae › Accipiter
Conservation status: least_concern
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is a small but fierce woodland hunter with short rounded wings and a long tail that make it incredibly agile when chasing birds through trees and bushes. Males are blue-gray on top with rusty-barred underparts, while females are larger and brownish, and both have distinctive yellow eyes and a rapid flapping flight pattern.
How To Identify
A medium-sized bird of prey characterized by muted tones of slate-gray and brown streaking across its chest and back. Its long tail is a key feature that aids in rapid maneuvering through tight vegetation.
Habitat
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk lives in woodland, gardens, and hedgerows.
Behaviour
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is an ambush hunter that dashes through vegetation to catch small birds.
Native Range
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is native to the temperate and subtropical parts of the Old World.
Did You Know?
Females are 25% larger than males — one of the greatest size differences of any raptor.
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