Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Species
Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). Male. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on November 10th 2017.
Male. Taken at Abingdon, Oxon., on November 10th 2017. (© David Hastings)
(1/640th sec at f14. Click image for larger version)

Description

L: 29 - 34cm, WS: 58 - 65cm (♂) L: 35 - 41cm, WS: 67 - 80cm (♀)

Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey. Adult males have bluish-grey backs and wings and orangey-brown bars on their chest and belly. Females and juveniles have brown backs and wings, and brown bars underneath. Sparrowhawks have bright yellow or orange eyes, long, yellow legs and long talons. Females are up to 25% larger than males.

They are widely distributed throughout the British Isles and in most of Europe.

They are commonly found in forests and woods, as well as in parks and gardens. Nests are made high up in fir trees.

Sparrowhawks are ambush predators, and fly fast and low among trees, bushes and buildings to flush out small birds.

The Sparrowhawk has Green status on the UK list. There are around 35000 breeding pairs in the UK.

Sightings

22-Aug-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
03-Aug-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
09-Jul-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
01-Jul-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
21-May-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
22-Apr-2025 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
07-Apr-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
26-Mar-2025 : Sherborne, Gloucs (1)
29-Jan-2025 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
03-Jan-2025 : Aston, Oxon (1)
09-Oct-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
27-Aug-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
30-Mar-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
29-Mar-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
26-Mar-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
18-Mar-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
06-Jan-2024 : Aston, Oxon (1)
25-Oct-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
22-Oct-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
04-Oct-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
23-Sep-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
25-May-2023 : The Coombes, Wilts (1)
18-Apr-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
16-Apr-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
07-Mar-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
04-Mar-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
21-Feb-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
13-Feb-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
30-Jan-2023 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
09-Jan-2023 : Aston, Oxon (1)
26-Dec-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
06-Dec-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
22-Nov-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
27-Oct-2022 : Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks (1)
04-Oct-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
09-Aug-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
26-Jul-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
03-Jul-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
27-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
16-Jun-2022 : Aston, Oxon (1)
01-May-2022 : Aston, Oxon
23-Apr-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
21-Apr-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
28-Mar-2022 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1m)
27-Feb-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
07-Feb-2022 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
09-Jan-2022 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
29-Nov-2021 : Lower Radley, Oxon (1)
21-Nov-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
05-Oct-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
05-Sep-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
07-Aug-2021 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
23-Jan-2021 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
15-Dec-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
22-Sep-2020 : Cholsey Marsh, Oxon (1)
19-Apr-2020 : Bagley Wood, Oxon (1)
12-Apr-2020 : Bagley Wood, Oxon (1)
06-Apr-2020 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
04-Apr-2020 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
10-Mar-2020 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
28-Jan-2020 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
12-Jan-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
02-Jan-2020 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
01-Jan-2020 : Eynsham, Oxon (1)
11-Dec-2019 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
09-Dec-2019 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
28-Oct-2019 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
05-Oct-2019 : Cley Marshes, Norfolk (1)
15-Sep-2019 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
15-Sep-2019 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
11-Sep-2019 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
21-Aug-2019 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (1)
10-Jul-2019 : Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon (1)
03-Jun-2019 : Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon (1)
17-Apr-2019 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1m)
11-Feb-2019 : Otmoor, Oxon (1f)
28-Jan-2019 : Bury Down, Berks (1)
03-Jan-2019 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
16-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain (1)
14-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain (1)
13-Nov-2018 : Extremadura, Spain (1)
03-Nov-2018 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
04-May-2018 : Cors y Llyn NNR, Powys (1)
28-Apr-2018 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
21-Mar-2018 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
06-Mar-2018 : Baulking, Oxon (1)
25-Jan-2018 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
17-Jan-2018 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
15-Jan-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
03-Jan-2018 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
30-Nov-2017 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
27-Nov-2017 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
26-Nov-2017 : Hitchcopse Pit, Oxon (1)
10-Nov-2017 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
01-Nov-2017 : Standlake Common, Oxon (1)
14-Oct-2017 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
25-Sep-2017 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
14-Sep-2017 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
13-Sep-2017 : Radley Lakes, Oxon (1)
29-Aug-2017 : Lollingdon Hill, Oxon (1)
24-Aug-2017 : Pewsey Downs NNR, Wilts (1)
13-Aug-2017 : West Walton, Norfolk (2)
13-Apr-2017 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
06-Apr-2017 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
04-Feb-2017 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
28-Dec-2016 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
11-Dec-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
13-Nov-2016 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
07-Nov-2016 : Cueva del Moro, Spain (1)
03-Nov-2016 : Los Riscos, Spain (1)
03-Nov-2016 : Embalse de Montejaque, Spain (1)
23-Oct-2016 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
30-Jul-2016 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (1)
16-Jul-2016 : Greenham Common, Berks (1)
18-Jun-2016 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
17-Apr-2016 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
28-Mar-2016 : Barton Fields, Abingdon, Oxon (1)
25-Mar-2016 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
13-Mar-2016 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
14-Feb-2016 : Abingdon (NE), Oxon (1)
09-Jan-2016 : Lower Radley, Oxon (1)
28-Dec-2015 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
20-Dec-2015 : Otmoor, Oxon (1f)
28-Nov-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
08-Nov-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
23-Oct-2015 : Holkham NNR, Norfolk (1)
20-Oct-2015 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
22-Aug-2015 : Yeosden Bank, Bucks (1)
22-Aug-2015 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (1)
22-Jul-2015 : Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria (1)
17-Jan-2015 : Thrupp Lane, Radley, Oxon (1)
10-Jan-2015 : Lower Radley, Oxon (1)
21-Sep-2014 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
31-Aug-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
24-Aug-2014 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
30-Jul-2014 : Challan Hall, Lancashire (1)
25-Jun-2014 : Rupite Hot Springs, Bulgaria
05-May-2014 : Tregaron Bog, Ceredigion (1)
20-Dec-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
30-Nov-2013 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
06-Oct-2013 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
18-May-2013 : Rodborough Common, Glos (1)
15-May-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
13-Apr-2013 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
26-Jan-2013 : Cholsey Marsh, Oxon (1)
10-Nov-2012 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
04-Nov-2012 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
08-Sep-2012 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
26-Aug-2012 : Greenham Common, Berks (1)
17-Aug-2012 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
18-Feb-2012 : Bagley Wood, Oxon (1)
22-Jan-2012 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
06-Nov-2011 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
29-Oct-2011 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
02-Oct-2011 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
11-Sep-2011 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
29-Aug-2011 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
10-Jul-2011 : Chimney Meadows, Oxon (1)
02-Jul-2011 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
25-Apr-2011 : Whelford Pools, Glos (1)
19-Mar-2011 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
24-Feb-2011 : University Parks, Oxford, Oxon (1)
10-Oct-2010 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
12-Sep-2010 : Algaciras Bay, Spain
12-Sep-2010 : Playa de Los Lances, Spain
13-Mar-2010 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
03-Mar-2010 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
03-Jan-2010 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
20-Dec-2009 : Thrupp Lane, Radley, Oxon (1)
31-Oct-2009 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
19-Sep-2009 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
12-Sep-2009 : Aston Rowant NNR, Oxon (1)
02-Aug-2009 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
10-May-2009 : Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon (1)
29-Apr-2009 : Otmoor, Oxon (1)
22-Mar-2009 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
27-Feb-2009 : Tenerife, Canary Islands
21-Jan-2009 : University Parks, Oxford, Oxon
14-Dec-2008 : Lower Radley, Oxon (1)
25-Nov-2008 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
13-Sep-2008 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
06-Jan-2008 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon
30-Sep-2007 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (2)
27-Aug-2007 : Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon (1)
27-Aug-2007 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
27-Aug-2007 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
26-May-2007 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
06-May-2007 : Mt Brunca Spina, Sardinia
10-Apr-2007 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
26-Dec-2006 : Otmoor, Oxon (2)
29-Oct-2006 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
08-Oct-2006 : Radley Lakes, Oxon
24-Sep-2006 : Lower Radley, Oxon
17-Sep-2006 : Abingdon, Oxon (2)
01-Sep-2006 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
25-Aug-2006 : Bempton Cliffs, E. Yorks
05-Apr-2006 : University Parks, Oxford, Oxon (2)
01-Mar-2006 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
05-Feb-2006 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)
20-Jan-2006 : University Parks, Oxford, Oxon (1)
23-Oct-2005 : Otmoor, Oxon
10-Apr-2005 : Abingdon, Oxon
19-Feb-2005 : Abingdon, Oxon (1)