The Eurasian sparrowhawk is the bird of prey most likely to visit gardens, but it is unobtrusive and can be difficult to spot. It can hunt birds in confined spaces and is known to prey on around 120 different species including thrushes, starlings, and even pigeons. It is an agile bird that flies fast and low with few wing-beats to remain hidden from its prey for as long as possible. During breeding season, the male will perform deep, undulating flight displays accompanied by high-pitched cackling.
Breeding pairs: 35,000
Wintering birds: 100,000
Family: Buzzards, kites & allies
Male sparrowhawks have blue-grey upperparts and white underparts that are striped with reddish-brown. They are greyer on the breast and belly. The white flight feathers have conspicuous dark grey bars.
The head is blue-grey with reddish cheeks, and the chin and upper throat are white. The hooked bill is grey with a black tip and yellow cere, the eyes are orange surrounded by a yellow eye-ring, and the legs and feet are yellow.
Female sparrowhawks are larger than the males. The upperparts are grey-brown and the underparts are white striped with grey. She does not have the reddish tinge of the male.
Juvenile sparrowhawks are similar to the female but with browner upperparts and wider stripes on the underparts than adults.
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Sparrowhawks breed in April and May and produce 1 brood a season. They are monogamous during breeding season but usually find new mates for the following season. They nest in woodlands, and coniferous and deciduous forests. Both male and female build the nest which is situated in the fork of a tree near the trunk, or on a horizontal branch. It is a platform made of loose sticks and twigs lined with smaller twigs and bark chips.
Sparrowhawks lay 2-7 smooth, glossy white or cream eggs with a bluish tint and heavy dark brown markings, which are incubated by the female alone for 32-34 days. Chicks are fed by the female with prey brought by the male. They fledge at 26-30 days but rely on their parents for food for a further 25 days, and reach sexual maturity at 1 year.
Sparrowhawks feed on songbirds with females taking larger birds such as pigeons, thrushes and starlings while males prey on tits, buntings, sparrows and finches. They will also catch rodents, young hares and rabbits and other small mammals.
Sparrowhawks can be seen all year round. They breed in woodland but will venture into gardens and more open country as well as towns and cities. They can be seen across most of the UK apart from parts of the Scottish Highlands. Listen out for the alarm calls of smaller birds which can often indicate that a sparrowhawk is nearby.
The colour of a sparrowhawk’s eyes changes as it ages. Young birds have greenish eyes which turn more yellow as they get older eventually becoming orange or even red.
The colour of a sparrowhawk’s eyes changes as it ages. Young birds have greenish eyes which turn more yellow as they get older eventually becoming orange or even red.
38 responses
I have a couple bird feeders outside second storey flat window. I have a lot of plants in the this particular south facing window and the birds will often come into my home and sit in my ficcus tree. The must assume they’re flying into the bushes whenever they come in.
Anyway, I just had a sparrowhawk crash land in my plants. I often get wood pigeons trying to land on the bird feeders and assumed at first that’s what it was, but it flew out and came back. That’s when I started looking for it online. Realized now it was a female hawk. Head was grey not the brownish color the male has.
Think I have just seen a sparrowhawk. Not as large as described for a female. From the back only, brown with faded greyish stripes on tail. Hawkish head with a greenish eye. Not a regular visitor
I think it was a sparrow hawk. Brown upper wing feathers and pinky chest . About a foot tall whilst perched in my neighbours may tree. Have seen them catch pigeons in my garden but birds have always had greyish horizontal chest feathers. Very agile when it flew off.
Male sparrowhawk sitting on fence – mid-afternoon – opposite bridfeeders. Thursday, Nov. 2nd. Photograph too blurred to post, unfortunately.
I was so glad to see a buzzard kill a sparrow hawk today that’s what I call karma due to all the song birds the sparrow hawk has killed in my garden.
Saw one this afternoon – male, I think – perched in a tree in my next door neighbour’s garden. Up until then both our gardens were loud with lots of sparrows, starlings, and other small birds. Then… absolute silence! “Spotter birds” must have seen the sparrow-hawk and warned the others to shushhhh. He sat for about 30 seconds then flew off in a flash over the hedgerow and away. Lovely bird!
(Seen in Barnstaple, north Devon)
Just seen one in my garden in Barnet.
I’m pretty certain it’s a juvenile.
It’s already visited twice having caught a sparrow.
Today however, it was “hunting” in a bush 100 yards from my window. Beautiful to see. But I’ve never seen one hunt like this.
Last week I heard the various tits and sparrows who visit my feeders kicking up a stink and when I looked out I saw a female sparrowhawk macerating a house sparrow on the fence. Yesterday evening I heard the same thing so I looked out and again there was a smaller, younger sparrowhawk feeding on a house sparrow. They are such beautiful birds, and while I’d rather not see songbirds killed, it is perfect natural for predation to occur. Anyway, I think there were two broods of house sparrows this year. I’m on the W. Lancashire Plain.
Just had a female crash into my prickly hedge to catch a sparrow! It should have waited a few minutes as we usually have pigeons in the garden!
We have had a female sparrowhawk visiting our garden for the last year or so and I put out lots of food for the small birds. I was really lucky and when I was doing the big birdwatch yesterday she landed in the tree and was surveying the garden, although that ended the birdwatch lol. She has caught 3 pigeons in our garden and a blackbird which is sad to see but also fascinating to behold and is the way of nature of course.
Watched a sparrow hawk eat a blackbird in my garden this morning. Pretty sure it was a female based on its size, well over a foot long (c.40cm). A very handsome bird, I felt privileged to watch it.
This was in Sandiway nr Northwich, Cheshire.
I regularly see a male sparrow hawk fly down the stream at the bottom of my garden. It is so fast and agile that it is awe-inspiring. I have seen these birds fly through dense woodland so fast that their reflexes must be truly amazing. It is no wonder that the slow-witted sparrows and starlings are such easy prey for these amazing creatures. It’s a shame that more people don’t get to see them in action. Get out into the woods you people.
Just made a coffee this morning, looked out of my kitchen window, and suddenly a beautiful Male sparrow hawk swooped down from nowhere, and landed on my garden fence with a house sparrow in his talons. Plucking the feathers in the pouring rain, seconds later, a very large crow divebombed the hawk, it was all over. Nature it’s best !!!!!.
Oldbury, West Midlands. Had a female slam into my patio doors yesterday with a massive pigeon in her claws. She sat and picked it apart for an hour and a half. Fascinating to watch. Such a beautiful bird.
Saw two thos morning in my neighbours garden they had caught a pidgen was surprised to see two on the hunt together in Cornwall
yesterday watched for over an hour a female Sparrowhawk enjoy her pigeon breakfast. Felt sorry for pigeon but fascinating to see. I live on an estate on the North East coast.
Watching one now in the garden eating it’s catch
Yesterday there was evidence that a bird of prey had been in our garden leaving remains of kill (collared dove) Early this morning looking out of the window there she was a beautiful female sparrow hawk. Wow !! I never realised just how large the females can be. A wonderful sight to behold. Watch out pigeons and doves in the area of Sudbury Suffolk
We have a sparrowhawk in the garden now. This is the second time in three days, that we know of. It is just sitting on a board watching for dinner, perhaps. The garden is normally full of small birds, I guess it knows this.
Just seen a male on the roof of my neighbour. He stood there for a while occasionally looking as though actively searching for prey then relaxing again until suddenly darting down into their garden out of sight.
I saw a female this evening in a garden at Keyworth, Notts. It did not stay long, on a fence. It left with some purpose. Maybe spotted something worth pursuing.
Just had beautiful female Sparrowhawk sweep into my garden and predated a collared Dove.. Now it is plucking feathers and innards… Sad for Dove but it’s nature’s way I guess.
Had a beautiful female sparrowhawk swoop in for a pigeon breakfast this morning, was the most amazing sight, I watched her pluck rip and eat her fill before she disappeared back on her way. I’m In a housing estate in Birmingham UK, caught on camera absolutely buzzing.
Hey! Me too yesterday In Bramley, Rotherham! I filmed the whole feed. It was absolutely amazing. I felt blessed indeed! I first thought It was a kestrel but realise now It was a beautiful sparrowhawk! x
Any suggestions as to why i get regular visits by male sparrow hawk to the bird feeder area, even had two sitting on the post last week, but never a female in last two years we have lived here.
Female Sparrowhawks are larger and will predate larger birds like pigeons and thrushes whereas the smaller male can only manage the smaller birds such as tits and sparrows etc.
The Laws of Nature don’t seem to apply to Humans, What about the survival of the fittest being applied to us?
Yes it does. We have evolved how we have because we are the best fit to our environment. Or did you think fittest meant strongest? Silly Roy. Should have tried harder at school.
I don’t fancy eating my neighbour
Saw a beautiful male having breakfast this morning sitting on our bbq. I’ve seen them flying before in the field but never in the garden it was amazing.
Had one take a pigeon in the garden yesterday, quite an awesome sight ! It’s been around for some time now but until yesterday we’d never seen it make a kill, the pigeons are a nuisance and if it keeps them in check then that’s fine, anyway this is how nature works.
Just had one drinking from my n
Bird bath absolutely grill I’m in north liverpool
We have suddenly had what seems too be a young female Sparrowhawk terrorising the young birds in the Colby Lane area of Appleby in Westmorland.
She was seen devouring a starling and then finishing off with the blackbird. She has now started sitting on a neighbours cage where she feeds her little wild birds.
Is there any way this lovely bird could be captured and rehomed.
The short answer is no. Why would you want it captured? It’s not terrorising other birds, it’s survival. It’s what happens in nature. Other bird species hunt and feed on birds. Everything in nature has a place. We feed wild birds and love to watch them all and we have a sparrowhawk visiting our garden. I feel honoured that we get to see this beautiful bird. Raptors were persecuted to the point of extinction in this country. ALL of nature needs our help and protection. Accept it as part of life and leave well alone.
Sitting here eating a late lunch and a female sparrow hawk landed on the fencing right next to me ! Amazing . From the bits that I have read since , I think it was a young female ❗️
One in our garden now! Having his dinner, I’m in Harvington near Evesham
Just seen a female in my garden – absolutely beautiful.
Saw one I thnk in my garden the other day. I have lots of birds visit my bird feeders and bird table so not sure if I want it to come back. But everyone has to eat I suppose!