Scientific name: Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 28-38 cm; wingspan 60-75 cm. Differs from other small raptors in combination of broad, rounded wings and long square-ended tail. Adult with barred, not streaked, underparts and long, yellow legs. Male with dark slate-grey upperparts, rufous cheeks, sometimes whitish patch on nape, underparts narrowly barred with rufous, and grey tail with 4-5 bars. Female considerably larger than male; superciliary stripe whitish, underparts barred with dark grey. Some females also have orange on cheeks and breast but always less than males. Juvenile brown, with underparts barred brownish. For differences with Levant Sparrowhawk, see that species. Flight characteristic, with a series of wingbeats followed by a longer glide. Hunts by flying low over hedgerows or along wood borders, attacking small birds by surprise, but also pursues prey into the open.
Voice. Most common breeding call is a rapid 'kek-kek-kek'.
Distribution. Fairly common summer visitor and resident.
Habitat. Occurs in wooded areas near open places, breeding in conifers or in mixed stands of trees.
Food. Takes prey by surprise during low flight along hedgerows, wood edges and among bushes. Plucks prey among cover on low eminence, or on thick branch in tree. Prey consists almost exclusively of birds, mostly songbirds.
Eggs. Markings brown/red-brown, blotched or streaked, sometimes forming cap or ring at large end or seldom at small end. Ground colour bluish-white (most often)/green/blue-green/light grey. Texture fine granular, not glossy. Shape short subelliptical (usually)/subelliptical(seldom). Size 40 x 32 mm (35-45 x 28-36), weight 23 g (19-30).