Sparrowhawks are agile birds of prey, commonly found across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Their short, rounded wings are perfectly adapted for navigating dense woodlands and foliage, making them formidable hunters in such environments. This guide delves into the fascinating hunting behaviors of the Sparrowhawk, exploring their prey, techniques, and hunting patterns.
Sparrowhawks are renowned for their ability to hunt small birds, with their name even reflecting this specialization. Females are significantly larger than males and can take down prey weighing up to 500g, exceeding their own body weight by 150g. Their hunting prowess has a measurable impact on songbird populations in areas where they are present. As one of Europe’s most common birds of prey, they are frequently observed in woodlands and shrubbery.
How Sparrowhawks Hunt
As carnivorous birds of prey, Sparrowhawks target a variety of small birds and mammals, with small birds constituting the vast majority of their diet. Common prey includes tits, finches, sparrows, buntings, thrushes, and starlings. They primarily hunt during the early morning and evening, taking advantage of lower light conditions when their targets are less vigilant. Their sharp eyesight and acute hearing allow them to scan their surroundings effectively, even in dim light.
Upon spotting a suitable target, Sparrowhawks typically employ a surprise attack. They swoop down from a high perch, using their powerful wings to rapidly close the distance. Their attack often begins with their feet, using sharp talons to bring the prey to the ground. Smaller prey is usually killed on impact, while larger quarry, such as doves or rabbits, are subdued through constriction and piercing wounds. Sparrowhawks also utilize ambush tactics, patiently waiting from a concealed perch for unsuspecting prey to wander nearby.
There are seven main hunting modes employed by Sparrowhawks:
- Perch hunting
- High soaring and stooping
- Contour-hugging flight (for catching birds)
- Hunting from stationary positions
- Low swooping
- Hunting by sound
- Hunting on foot
Specialized Bird Hunters
The Sparrowhawk’s specialization in hunting birds is evident, although they do hunt mammals, which comprise less than 2% of their diet in some areas. Approximately 150 bird species have been recorded as Sparrowhawk prey, including numerous songbirds, thrushes, and larger birds like pigeons, doves, and small gamebirds. The presence of Sparrowhawks has been shown to cause a significant decline in songbird populations. For instance, a study on Blue tits revealed a drop in their annual survival rate from 0.485 to 0.376 in territories occupied by Sparrowhawks. Their short, blunt wings are ideal for maneuvering through trees but not for prolonged soaring or extended pursuits. Consequently, they spend much of their time waiting for prey. Hunting techniques adapt to the seasons; in winter, Sparrowhawks actively pursue prey more frequently throughout the day.
Optimal Hunting Times
Sparrowhawks are largely inactive during the main part of the day, focusing their hunting efforts on the first three hours of daylight in the morning and occasionally during dusk. Their keen eyesight allows them to effectively target unsuspecting prey in low-light conditions. While they generally avoid hunting at night, this can occur when food is scarce, particularly in winter. During the breeding season, when they have chicks to feed, Sparrowhawks hunt more regularly throughout the day.
Returning to Prey
Sparrowhawks may return to larger kills to consume them later if they cannot finish the meal in one sitting. However, they are not known to cache prey.
Signs of a Sparrowhawk Attack
A Sparrowhawk attack is typically characterized by a rapid, short, and sharp ambush. Most prey is killed on impact. If not, the Sparrowhawk will use its talons to constrict or press the prey into the ground. Compared to soaring raptors like Red Kites or eagles, Sparrowhawks are more covert hunters. They often perch in dense foliage or on treetops before launching themselves at their prey, capturing it either in the air or on the ground.
Daily Food Consumption
An adult Sparrowhawk consumes approximately 40 to 50g of meat per day. Given that a Blue tit weighs around 10g and a Starling weighs between 70-100g, a Sparrowhawk might eat as few as one bird or as many as four or five, depending on the prey’s size. Studies have indicated that a pair of Sparrowhawks could consume as many as 2,200 house sparrows, 600 common blackbirds, or 110 wood pigeons in a single year.
Prey Selection
Male and female Sparrowhawks exhibit different dietary preferences due to the female’s larger size, enabling her to hunt a wider variety of prey. This sexual dimorphism helps mated pairs maintain diverse diets, adapting to food availability in their habitat. Males typically target smaller birds such as tits, finches, sparrows, and buntings. Females, on the other hand, can handle prey up to 2.5 times heavier, including thrushes, starlings, doves, and pigeons. There have even been observations of females tackling pheasants. Sparrowhawks consume a broad spectrum of birds, with around 150 species documented in their diet.
In addition to birds, Sparrowhawks also hunt mammals, including:
- Bats
- Mice
- Voles
- Squirrels
- Rats
- Shrews
- Rabbits
Vocalizations
Sparrowhawks produce a series of “tek” sounds when moving within their territories but are generally silent during hunting, relying heavily on surprise.
Hunting Success Rate
The success rate of Sparrowhawk hunting attempts hovers around 10%. While this may seem low, their diverse diet means they are not solely dependent on a single successful hunt, unlike some other raptors. Hunting small birds is inherently challenging, and even with their exceptional agility, Sparrowhawks maintain a relatively low success rate.
Largest Prey Taken
Female Sparrowhawks are capable of hunting prey weighing up to 500g, such as pigeons, doves, pheasants, and ducks. However, these larger kills are relatively rare, with Sparrowhawks more commonly targeting birds smaller than a starling.
Mammalian Prey
Sparrowhawks hunt a variety of mammals, including bats, mice, voles, squirrels, rats, shrews, and rabbits. Mammals constitute a small portion, typically around 2%, of their diet in many regions.
Winter Hunting Behavior
During winter, Sparrowhawks tend to hunt more actively, likely due to the reduced abundance of bird life. Their hunting techniques also adapt as many bird species migrate, altering the concentration of local prey populations.
Cooperative Hunting?
Both male and female Sparrowhawks hunt independently. Females, being approximately 20% larger than males, can capture significantly larger prey. The female’s prey can weigh up to 2.5 times more than the male’s. This difference in prey size is advantageous as it diversifies their diets and reduces direct competition between the sexes, allowing them to cover a wider ecological niche and effectively feed their young. This pattern, where females are typically larger and focus on larger prey, is common among many bird of prey species.
