A formidable hunter of the avian world, renowned for its agility and prowess in capturing prey. This diminutive raptor possesses distinctive features that aid in its hunting techniques and adaptability to various habitats.
Characterized by its compact size, the Eurasian sparrowhawk exhibits short, wide wings and a long tail, facilitating swift and agile flight maneuvers, particularly through densely vegetated areas such as forests and woodlands. Sexual dimorphism is evident in their plumage, with females and juveniles sporting brown upperparts adorned with intricate barring, while adult males showcase bluish-grey upper parts and orange-barred underparts, providing effective camouflage in their surroundings.
Despite their diminutive size, Eurasian sparrowhawks are skilled hunters, specializing in capturing birds as their primary prey. Their hunting strategy involves ambushing unsuspecting birds from concealed perches or launching surprise attacks with rapid, darting flights. Unlike some larger raptors that rely on brute force to subdue their prey, sparrowhawks employ precision and finesse, using their tiny beaks to pluck feathers and dismantle their catch with meticulous precision.
The diet of the Eurasian sparrowhawk is predominantly avian, with a particular preference for small to medium-sized birds. During the breeding season, fledglings make up a significant portion of their diet, comprising up to 40% of their summer food intake. This dietary specialization highlights their role as important regulators of bird populations, targeting individuals who may be sick, injured, or vulnerable.
While their preferred hunting grounds are often found in forested habitats, Eurasian sparrowhawks exhibit remarkable versatility and can thrive in a variety of environments, including urban areas and gardens. In cities, they are known to target garden birds, taking advantage of the abundance of prey species in human-altered landscapes.
With a diverse prey spectrum comprising over 120 species of birds, the Eurasian sparrowhawk plays a crucial ecological role as a predator, helping to maintain the balance of bird populations and contributing to the overall health of ecosystems. Despite their small stature, these raptors are formidable hunters, embodying the adage that dynamite comes in small packages.
Distribution
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116578/WordPress Content/Afghanistan/Afghanistan.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683570876/WordPress Content/Andorra/Andorra.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116544/WordPress Content/Armenia/Armenia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174415/WordPress Content/Austria/Austria.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116427/WordPress Content/Azerbaijan/Azerbaijan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683781826/WordPress Content/Bahrain/Bahrain.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174394/WordPress Content/Belarus/Belarus.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116538/WordPress Content/Bhutar/Bhutar.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174401/WordPress Content/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina/Bosnia-and-Herzegovina.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683570878/WordPress Content/Cyprus/Cyprus.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683177790/WordPress Content/Denmark/Denmark.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683208831/WordPress Content/Djbouti/Djbouti.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_151,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683573496/WordPress Content/Egypt_26422e8be/Egypt_26422e8be.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174426/WordPress Content/Estonia/Estonia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683117752/WordPress Content/Ehtiopia/Ehtiopia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683258567/WordPress Content/Faroe-Islands/Faroe-Islands.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174460/WordPress Content/Georgia/Georgia.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851065/WordPress Content/Israel_253048a36/Israel_253048a36.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174439/WordPress Content/Italy/Italy.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851062/WordPress Content/Jordan_25379c710/Jordan_25379c710.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116532/WordPress Content/Kazakhstan/Kazakhstan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683117599/WordPress Content/Kenya/Kenya.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683180191/WordPress Content/South-Korea_2667f5b0f/South-Korea_2667f5b0f.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851049/WordPress Content/Kuwait_26832ce91/Kuwait_26832ce91.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116443/WordPress Content/Kyrgyzstan/Kyrgyzstan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116439/WordPress Content/Lacs/Lacs.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174424/WordPress Content/Latvia/Latvia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683208846/WordPress Content/Lebanon/Lebanon.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683208843/WordPress Content/Libya/Libya.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174417/WordPress Content/Liechtenstien/Liechtenstien.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174408/WordPress Content/Lithuania/Lithuania.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683177782/WordPress Content/Luxembourg_27379331b/Luxembourg_27379331b.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683784033/WordPress Content/Macau/Macau.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116561/WordPress Content/Malaysia/Malaysia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116188/WordPress Content/Mali/Mali.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683570874/WordPress Content/Malta/Malta.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683208828/WordPress Content/Mauritania/Mauritania.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174458/WordPress Content/Moldova/Moldova.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683571229/WordPress Content/Monaco/Monaco.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116549/WordPress Content/Mongolia/Mongolia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174445/WordPress Content/Montenegro/Montenegro.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683208834/WordPress Content/Morocco/Morocco.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116547/WordPress Content/Myanmar/Myanmar.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_86,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1714723868/WordPress Content/nepal-png/nepal-png.png?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683177792/WordPress Content/Netherlands/Netherlands.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683117783/WordPress Content/Niger/Niger.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174429/WordPress Content/Normay/Normay.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851052/WordPress Content/Oman_2680eb456/Oman_2680eb456.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174455/WordPress Content/Slovakia/Slovakia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174448/WordPress Content/Slovenia/Slovenia.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683117738/WordPress Content/Somalia/Somalia.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683177776/WordPress Content/Spain/Spain.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683173383/WordPress Content/Sri-Lanka/Sri-Lanka.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174429/WordPress Content/Normay/Normay.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683174441/WordPress Content/Sweden/Sweden.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_87,h_87,c_fill,g_auto/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1714724306/WordPress Content/switzerland_655888689/switzerland_655888689.png?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851067/WordPress Content/Syria_246628111/Syria_246628111.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683571232/WordPress Content/Taiwan/Taiwan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116527/WordPress Content/Tajikistan/Tajikistan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116213/WordPress Content/Tanzania/Tanzania.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116446/WordPress Content/Thailand/Thailand.jpg?_i=AA)
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![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116435/WordPress Content/Turkmenistan/Turkmenistan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851059/WordPress Content/United-Arab-Emirates_2657ca023/United-Arab-Emirates_2657ca023.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116430/WordPress Content/Ukraine/Ukraine.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683177785/WordPress Content/United-Kingdom/United-Kingdom.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116556/WordPress Content/Uzbekistan/Uzbekistan.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683116551/WordPress Content/Vietnam/Vietnam.jpg?_i=AA)
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dr0zfbman/images/w_150,h_87,c_scale/f_auto,q_auto:good/v1683851054/WordPress Content/Yemen_2668937e1/Yemen_2668937e1.jpg?_i=AA)
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No