Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue encouraging through knowledge a natural balance

Sparrow Hawks have short lives compared to other birds of prey. The average age is 2-3 years very few live longer than 7 years. They are very focused and sometimes a little risky in their awsome pursuit of prey.
With more people feeding birds the sparrow hawk has learnt that his lunch is also on the bird table.
The often secretive Sparrow Hawk, like all hawks, has great manuverability and is capable of high speed bursts in flight. Flight is a series of quick flaps interspersed with glides, when flying fast, circling or just low beating along the hedgerows, it will continually skim from one side to the other.
Its large tail enables it to twist and turn effortlessly in and out of cover. The majority of the Sparrow Hawks prey is taken whilst flying, although not too infrequently it can surprise it victims whilst it is about to take off or even on the ground.
An element of surprise plays a large part in their capture of prey. Sparrow Hawks are capable of performing remarkable pursuits and captures. Should the intended prey soar steeply, the Sparrow Hawk may turn upside down and seize it from underneath should it take ground cover the Sparrow Hawk may decide to continue on foot.
They have many hunting techniques which is dependent on the habitat and prey. They are not built for stamina and long chases, though they have the ability to maneuver in pursuit better than any other raptor The usual flying speed is 30-40 kph, but a sparrow hawk is capable of up to 50 kph in short bursts.
Sparrow hawks require woodland or at least a small clump of trees to build their nests. Territories are well spaced as they do not tolerate another nest nearby and the distance between each nest can range from 0.5 km to 2.1 km. This is determined by their food supplies, if the food supply is ample the Sparrow hawk requires a small territory. Sparrow hawks usually build their nests in lower part of the canopy which is well concealed from view close to the truck of a tree. It is a platform of twigs which is linked with bark and is very sturdy in construction, there is a central cup to prevent the eggs from rolling out. Nest building takes several weeks and is usually completed long before the eggs are laid.
In May 3 - 6 eggs are laid at two-day intervals, incubation last for 32 – 35 days and hatching takes place over two or more days, so each chick is a different size. This is an adaptation to cope with an unpredictable food supply. If food is short, the youngest chick will die and reduce the brood to a more manageable size.
The female will help her chicks to break out of their shell. When hatched chicks are covered in pure white short down and their eyes are already partly open.
Sparrow hawks will time their nesting to ensure that their chicks will have plenty of fledglings of small birds around.
Chicks are very vulnerable in the first week of their lives as they cannot control their body temperature. They are brooded almost constantly at this time, and then progressively less until they are able to do so.
The female is the sole carer of the eggs and chicks, the males' role from egg-laying through to fledging is to provide all food required by the female and the chicks. The female will hunt as the chicks get older, but only if the male is unable to catch adequate food by himself.
At four weeks the chicks are ready to fledge. They will leave the nest for short periods of time but will continue to return for food and to sleep at night. Eventually they will venture further and spend longer periods away. Once the feathers are fully grown they will begin to practice their skills by chasing other birds, which will make them efficient hunters and able to feed themselves. Three to four weeks after fledging they will have learnt to hunt and at that time they will disperse and become independent. The Sparrow hawk’s prey extends to well over 120 bird species also small mammals are taken. Among the victims are collared doves, Stock dove, Great spotted woodpecker, Snipe, Sanderling, Wood sandpiper, Starling. Therefore the most frequently caught birds are numerous being of old, sick, injured or weak
A female can take prey are large a wood pigeon whereas the male cannot catch anything bigger than a mistle thrush. During the summer 40% of a Sparrow Hawks diet is fledglings. Sparrow hawks hunt where there is a greater chance of success and food is plentiful.
Their Head and Body length is 28 - 40 cm with a wing span of 60 - 80 cm. They normally Weighs between 150 – 320 gm.
The male has grey-blue upper parts with finely barred pale under parts. Female is like the male but larger and has grey-brown under parts.
They like Beech and Oak woods and broadleaf forest, Coniferous forest, Farmland, Hedgerows, Mountain grassland, Parkland, Grassland and are now coming back in Urban areas.
Research reveals that males hunt more in woodlands; females more in fields and open areas.
The sparrow hawk was the last bird of prey to be protected, in 1961 rather than 1954 for all the others. It is now fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which makes it an offence to kill, injure or take an adult sparrow hawk, or to damage, destroy or take an active nest or its contents

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This has been proof read by Sandra