Eurasian sparrowhawk  (Accipiter nisus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

One of the most widespread diurnal raptor species (4), the Eurasian sparrowhawk is small-bodied, with relatively short, rounded wings, long legs and a strongly hooked beak (5). The male is dark grey above, with a pale line above the eye and a white patch on the chin, while the underparts are pale and distinctively marked with fine reddish-brown barring. The female is significantly larger than the male, with darker, browner plumage above and white plumage below, with grey barring (2) (5). Both sexes also have reddish tinged cheeks and flanks. The juvenile Eurasian sparrowhawk resembles the adult female, but has browner upperparts, with rusty feather margins, and broader barring on the underparts. There are six subspecies of Eurasian sparrowhawk, which can be separated by size, colouration and density of barring (2).

left