Sparrowhawk - Common Sparrowhawk
Sparrowhawk.
The name comes from the fact that this bird has long been used to hunt quails. Sometimes the sparrowhawk is referred to as the small hawk.
It looks very similar to the Goshawk, but is much smaller, about the size of a pigeon or slightly larger. The male has a bluish-gray back, with reddish, brown, or chestnut transverse stripes on a light background below. The female is significantly larger than the male, with a gray-brown back and gray stripes on a white background below. The female can easily be confused with the Goshawk if there is no way to accurately assess the size. The sparrowhawk has a longer tail, narrow at the base, with a rectangular tip that is not rounded. Adult eyes are bright yellow or orange. Young birds resemble the female but have ochre tips on the feathers of the dark back, with less distinct striping below and a noticeable brown wash on the underside of the body and wings; the patterns are more elongated along the body, some may be heart-shaped. Young birds have pale yellow eyes. Both adults and young often have a whitish spot of indefinite shape on the back of the head. Their flight is very maneuverable and fast, alternating between flapping and gliding. Soaring is rarely used. Males weigh 100-220 grams, females 180-340 grams, with a length of 28-41 cm, male wings measuring 19.6-21.2 cm, females 23.1-25.6 cm, and a wingspan of 55-78 cm.
A common nesting migratory bird. It inhabits coniferous and deciduous forests in plains and mountains up to 2500 m in the Zailiysky Alatau. In southern regions, it appears in March, with most birds arriving in April, and some migrating until mid-May. In northern regions, the sparrowhawk arrives in April-May. It is important to note that all late migrants caught at the Chokpak Pass in April-May were immature birds of the second year of life.
It inhabits wooded areas interspersed with open spaces, especially those densely populated by small birds. In winter, it can be found in populated areas and cities.
It nests in separate pairs at a distance from each other. The nest is built in various trees, both deciduous and coniferous (spruce, fir, apple, birch, aspen), at a height of 2-10 m above the ground. The nest is constructed from dry twigs, and the cup is lined with old grass. Sometimes sparrowhawks restore and use old magpie nests for nesting. The clutch consists of 2-5 (usually 3-4) eggs and occurs in mid-May to June. The female incubates the clutch for more than 30 days from the laying of the first egg and cares for the chicks, while the male brings food for them. As the chicks grow, both parents begin to hunt for prey. The chicks leave the nest in July-August and remain nearby for a long time, depending on the parents' feeding.
The autumn migration begins in late August and continues until November, peaking in September to early October.
It primarily feeds on small birds, and less frequently on mouse-like rodents. It can catch larger birds such as pigeons and partridges. The main hunting methods are sudden and swift attacks from cover after a search flight at low altitude or watching from ambush.
Birds
