Eurasian Sparrowhawk
This bird is not native to North America. It is a traditional bird in falconry as it is common throughout Europe.
This bird is not to be confused with the Eurasian Kestrel or the European Sparrowhawk.

Morphology
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is an accipiter and, as such, has broad wings. It is colored similarly to other Accipiters with the adult having a dark blue-gray head, nape, back, and wings. The eyes are yellow in the immature bird changing to orange and then red as it matures. The chest is cream barred with brown.

Hunting
Typical quarry caught with the Eurasian Sparrowhawk will be small birds, at which it excels. In the wild it catches finches, sparrows and even doves.

Trivia
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is commonly confused with other similarly named birds. It is also known as the European Sparrowhawk, European Sparrow Hawk, Common Sparrowhawk, Northern Sparrowhawk and simply the Sparrow Hawk.
A male Sparrowhawk will be hunted somewhere around 150g while the female will fly somewhere around 250g.
The male Sparrowhawk is called a "musket".
These birds are known to become so single minded and persistent in chasing their prey that they do not pay attention to their own safety.

Links
https://www.hawk-conservancy.org/priors/sparrowhawk.shtml


All images and text Copyright © 2004 - 2020 - Lydia Ash