Sparrowhawk
Characteristics of the Sparrowhawk. Typical of birds of their species is that the females are almost twice as large as the males. Since sparrowhawks are typical forest dwellers, they have short wings, a long tail and long, slender legs. These are characteristics…
Characteristics of Sparrowhawks
Characteristic of birds of their species is that the females are almost twice as large as the males. Since sparrowhawks are typical forest dwellers, they have short wings, a long tail and long thin legs. These are characteristics that enable them to manoeuvre in tight spaces. They are, at 28 - 38 cm, the smallest representatives of birds of prey.
Like other animal species, sparrowhawks are also drawn to cities and it is often possible to observe sparrowhawks settling in urban cemeteries, parks and green spaces. Another characteristic of sparrowhawks is their plumage. The males have a grey-blue colouration on the upper parts and display a brownish and white striped pattern on the underside. The prey of sparrowhawks are mostly smaller birds, which they hunt close to the ground. But sometimes mice or small reptiles are also on the sparrowhawk's menu. Sparrowhawks prefer to breed in an environment rich in trees and like to reach their nest in the tree canopy.
Population of Sparrowhawks
Like all birds, the population of sparrowhawks also declined sharply between 1950 and 1970. This was mainly caused by the pesticide DDT. Since the ban on this agent, the population of sparrowhawks has recovered well.
