Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Vagrant · Size: 28–38 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds across much of the Palearctic from Europe, central Asia, the northern Indian subcontinent, northern China to Siberia with some northern populations wintering south to northern Africa, Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Indochina.

Identification

Male has slaty-grey upperparts, orange-rufous head-sides, faint orange-rufous bars on whitish underparts, and long slender tail. Female is larger, with brown-tinged upperparts, prominent whitish supercilium, and brown bars on underparts. Juvenile like female but lacks rufous wash on head-sides. In all plumages, separated from other sparrowhawks by large size (may not be apparent in the field), six fingers, broader wings, and longer tail. Japanese Sparrowhawk has five fingers and a mesial stripe; Chinese Sparrowhawk has only four fingers.

Habitat

Wooded and open areas.