Hawkeye | Bird Identification Guide

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The Eurasian sparrow is the bird of prey most likely to visit gardens, but it is inconspicuous and can be difficult to spot. It can hunt birds in confined spaces and has been known to hunt around 120 different species including thrushes, starlings and even pigeons. It is an agile bird that flies low and fast with few wingbeats to stay hidden from its prey as long as possible. During the breeding season, the male will perform deep, undulating flight displays accompanied by high-pitched calls.

Core items

Scientific name:Efforts are welcome

Status: Resident and Immigrant Breeder

Breeding pairs: 35,000

Wintering birds: 100,000

Conservation status: Green

Family:

Length: 28 – 39 cm

Wingspan: 60 – 75 cm

Weight: 110 – 350g

Typical shelf life: 4 years

How are sparrows?

Male house sparrows have bluish-gray upperparts and white underparts with reddish-brown stripes. It is more gray on the chest and belly. The white flight feathers have prominent dark gray bars.

The head is bluish-grey with reddish cheeks, and the chin and upper neck are white. The hooked beak is gray with a black tip and cherry yellow, the eyes are orange surrounded by a yellow eye ring, and the legs and feet are yellow.

Female sparrows are larger than males. The upper part is grayish-brown, and the underparts are white streaked with gray. It does not have the reddish complexion of the male.

Juvenile sparrows are similar to females, but with browner upperparts and wider stripes on the underside than adults.

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How do sparrows breed?

Hawks breed in April and May and produce 1 litter per season. They are monogamous during the breeding season, but usually find new mates for the next season. They nest in coniferous and deciduous woodlands and forests. Both the male and the female build the nest located in the fork of a tree close to the trunk or on a horizontal branch. It's a platform of loose sticks and branches lined with smaller twigs and bark chips.

Hawks lay 2 to 7 smooth, shiny eggs, white or cream, with a blue tinge and heavy dark brown spots, which are incubated by the female for just 32 to 34 days. The young are fed by the female with prey brought by the male. They come out in 26-30 days but are dependent on their parents for food for another 25 days and reach sexual maturity at 1 year.

What do sparrows eat?

Hawks prey on songbirds with females catching larger birds such as pigeons, thrushes and starlings while males prey on tits, pennants, sparrows and finches. They will also catch young rodents, hares and rabbits and other small mammals.

Where can I see sparrows?

Hawks are seen throughout the year. They breed in forests but venture out into more open gardens and fields, as well as towns and cities. They can be seen in most parts of the UK, except for parts of the Scottish Highlands. Listen for smaller bird calls that usually indicate a sparrow is nearby.

How do the Gavião sound?

Marc Anderson/xeno-canto

Did you know that?

A sparrow's eye color changes as it ages. Young birds have greenish eyes that become more yellow as they grow and eventually turn orange or even red.

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