Although one of the commonest diurnal raptors in the UK the Sparrowhawk is one of the most elusive and most infrequently seen. This elusiveness is a characteristic of its   hunting technique. It depends largely on surprising its victim so it has to remain unseen by its prey, which is taken in a fast low flying surprise attack.

It is found throughout the UK, except for parts of the Highlands, the Western Islands and Shetland. Population numbers have now reached an estimated 32,000 breeding pairs from the lows of the pesticide era in the 1950/60's. Add to this the non-breeders and the total population could be as high as 50,000 pairs.   The carrying capacity of the habitat limits the breeding population. In suitable breeding habitat, Sparrowhawks can sustain territories spaced at 1km intervals. Clutches of eggs vary in size from 2 to 6 but in some instances two females lay in the same nest and a clutch of 9 has been recorded in Ayrshire.   Sparrowhawks suffer from a high mortality among juveniles and only 12 % of eggs result in subsequent productive breeders (Newton 1986).   Ringing recoveries suggest that juveniles show no preference for direction of dispersal.

The general opinion is that the Sparrowhawk is showing signs of decline in the UK as a whole, but in my Ayrshire study area the numbers remain steady. The large increase in the Buzzard population could, in the long term, restrict suitable breeding sites for Sparrowhawks, as at present there are signs of Sparrowhawks being displaced from   long used sites.   The male Sparrowhawk feeds on small birds generally in woodland habitat, whereas the larger female can take prey as large as a Partridge usually in more open areas than the male.

The Sparrowhawk is not in a position of conservation concern but the situation needs to be constantly monitored to ensure a catastrophe like the DDT episode in the past, cannot happen again.   Although persecution remains a problem in some parts of Scotland, there is little evidence of it in Ayrshire.

Ian Todd

References and General Reading:
Newton, Ian. 1986. The Sparrowhawk   T & AD Poyser, Calton.

Photographs © Ian Todd

Male Sparrowhawk

Clutch of Eggs

Female Sparrowhawk with young