Sparrowhawk - Accipiter Nisus

Sparrowhawk (click to enlarge)

Identification The Sparrowhawk has barred underparts, like the Goshawk. In fact, it is like a small Goshawk in many ways: the female has grey-brown upper parts, and the male has grey-blue upper parts; the female is bigger than the male, which is about as big as a Mistle Thrush. The Sparrowhawk makes a shrieking call, though in the garden it is usually the alarm call that is heard as it is chased off by Magpies.

Nesting The Sparrowhawk builds a quite flat platform from twigs in a tall tree. Breeding starts in April and consists of a single clutch of 2-7 eggs.

Food Their diet is small birds; though because of the size difference between sexes, the female often preys on larger birds, like thrushes and starlings, while the male goes for tits and sparrows.

Many thanks to British Garden Birds for the information on this page.