Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Copyright monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, France • Sep 2010

Bird name: Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Latin: Accipiter nisus
Other: Epervier d'Europe (Fr) • Gavilán (Es) • Sparviere Eurasiatico (It) • Sperber (De)
Family: Accipitridae • Sparrowhawks, Birds of Prey
Range: Europe, Asia, Middle East
Similar:

The Sparrowhawk has a very characteristic wing shape, when seen from below: deep, short, curved wings, tapering at the end (see below). The underside is fully barred. Colour is grey or brownish. The only other similar bird in Europe is the Goshawk and it’s conceivable that one or two of the pics below are of Goshawks (I haven’t made a clear distinction between the two yet).

Early September is a good time to see Sparrowhawks along the coast in the Alpes Maritimes. Although they are present all year round in much of Europe, northernmost Sparrowhawks will migrate locally further south.

As the name suggests, they prey on smaller birds.