Accipiter nisus - Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Feather characters. Barbules can be extremely long (1.7-3.3 mm), entangled and basal internodes contain very dark stippled pigment. Concentration of pigment gradually decreases distally and most of the barbules look filamentous. Slightly thickened nodes (11-17 per mm) are located on proximal end of barbules. Over a short distance these nodes abruptly decrease in size. Further along the barbule, nodal structures are too small to qualify as nodes. At distal part, these nodal structures are hardly discernible. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are mostly located on proximal end of barbules on both sides of the pennulum. Occasionally minute prongs are found on other parts of barbules as well.
Field characters. Length 28-38 cm; wingspan 60-75 cm. Weight: male 150 g, female 325 g (Dunning, 1993). Differs from other small raptors in combination of broad, rounded wings and long square-ended tail. Adult with barred, not streaked, underparts and long, yellow legs. Male with dark slate-grey upperparts, rufous cheeks, sometimes whitish patch on nape, underparts narrowly barred with rufous, and grey tail with 4-5 bars. Female considerably larger than male; superciliary stripe whitish, underparts barred with dark grey. Some females also have orange on cheeks and breast but always less than males. Juvenile brown, with underparts barred brownish. For differences with Levant Sparrowhawk, see that species. Flight characteristic, with a series of wingbeats followed by a longer glide. Hunts by flying low over hedgerows or along wood borders, attacking small birds by surprise, but also pursues prey into the open.
Voice. Most common breeding call is a rapid 'kek-kek-kek'.
Distribution. Fairly common summer visitor and resident. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Occurs in wooded areas near open places, breeding in conifers or in mixed stands of trees.
Food. Takes prey by surprise during low flight along hedgerows, wood edges and among bushes. Plucks prey among cover on low eminence, or on thick branch in tree. Prey consists almost exclusively of birds, mostly songbirds.