Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

The Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, is a small woodland hawk found across Europe, parts of North Africa, and much of temperate Asia. It is built for sudden pursuit, with short rounded wings, a long tail, and fast maneuvering through trees, hedgerows, and garden edges. Females are much larger than males and are usually brownish above with barred underparts, while adult males often show blue-gray upperparts and warm rufous barring. Its diet is dominated by small and medium-sized birds, which it catches in rapid surprise attacks.

In most places the Eurasian sparrowhawk is a protected wild raptor, not a pet bird. Falconers have used the species historically, but it is demanding to keep because it can be nervous, fast-metabolizing, and easily injured in poorly designed housing. Licensed care calls for quiet mews, safe perches, careful weight management, and whole prey such as quail or small birds. Rehabilitation centers commonly see collision injuries and underweight juveniles. Around bird feeders, occasional sparrowhawk visits are part of normal predator-prey ecology, though dense cover can give small birds more escape options.