Sparrowhawk
Scientific Name: Accipiter nisusMaltese Name: Sparvier
Family: Hawks, vultures and eagles (Accipitridae)
Occurence: Regular
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey with short, broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. Females can be up to 25% larger than males and weigh up to twice as much. When females are larger than males, it is known as reverse sexual dimorphism; this is unusual in higher vertebrates but typical in birds of prey. The Male has slate-grey upperparts with finely red-barred underparts. The female has dark brown or greyish-brown upperparts, and brown-barred underparts. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk's small bill is used for plucking feathers and pulling prey apart, rather than killing or cutting. This species is common in most woodlands of europe in its range and also in more open country with scattered trees. The oldest known wild Eurasian Sparrowhawk lived more than two decades; it was found dead in Denmark 20 years and 3 months after having been ringed.
Status:
Very Scarce Spring migrant but regular Autumn migrant.
When to See:
In Spring from mid-March till mid-May and in Autumn from early September till early November.
Where to See:
Can be seen from anywhere flying over during migration, but mostly seen from Buskett in Autumn.
Photographs:
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Sparrowhawk, Buskett |
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Sparrowhawk, Buskett |
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Sparrowhawk Pair, Buskett |
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