Time for lunch
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (accipiter nisus) flight_w_1958
If there's one thing that defines the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, apart from its skills and dexterity during flight, it's its loyalty to its partner throughout its life.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk may not be a 100% monogamous bird. Sometimes in the life of the sparrowhawk there may be situations where one member of the pair disappears, for whatever reason.
According to studies, every year, established sparrowhawk pairs remain steady, as long as the richness of their territory is maintained. If the prey is scarce, both partners look for a new territory nearby in which to settle together and build the nest.
The main reason why a pair of hawks separates is because of the lack of offspring. First, when a pair fails to have chicks, the first thing they do is change territory.
If the following year the couple also fails to conceive, it’s usually the female that goes in search of a new territory and a new partner. The male tends to stay in the old territory and look for a new female to reproduce with there.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk isn’t one of the fastest birds of prey, as it’s outpaced by birds such as the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), which can travel at up to 240 miles per hour. However, the 75 miles per hour that sparrowhawks can reach are nothing to laugh at.
Like all birds of the Falconidae family, these animals are extremely fast and agile in flight. Their capacity makes them skillful predators of small, fast prey.
And here's something else:
We know that weaker and sicker animals are easier prey in nature. If a mammal limps, a bird flies poorly or demonstrates changes in its behavior that expose it more to predation, it’s very likely that it’ll be hunted rather than a healthy and strong animal. However, this isn’t always the case, as healthy animals are also often preyed upon.
Sparrowhawks feed mainly on passerines or songbirds. In addition, there’s a marked difference in the diet of the female and male Eurasian sparrowhawk. They hunt birds that weigh between 1.4 to 1.8 ounces. At most, they may hunt birds weighing up to 4.25 ounces. Their favorite prey are finches, sparrows, and great tits.
On the other hand, females have a predilection for larger prey. In general, the average weight of the birds hunted by a female sparrowhawk is between 1.75 and 2.5 ounces, but they’re able to capture animals weighing up to a little over a pound.
The most interesting thing about this is that, according to one study, these birds are able to select prey infected with blood parasites, such as Leucocytozoon or malaria. Infected birds are 16 to 25% more likely to be caught than those that aren’t.
Time for lunch
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (accipiter nisus) flight_w_1958
If there's one thing that defines the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, apart from its skills and dexterity during flight, it's its loyalty to its partner throughout its life.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk may not be a 100% monogamous bird. Sometimes in the life of the sparrowhawk there may be situations where one member of the pair disappears, for whatever reason.
According to studies, every year, established sparrowhawk pairs remain steady, as long as the richness of their territory is maintained. If the prey is scarce, both partners look for a new territory nearby in which to settle together and build the nest.
The main reason why a pair of hawks separates is because of the lack of offspring. First, when a pair fails to have chicks, the first thing they do is change territory.
If the following year the couple also fails to conceive, it’s usually the female that goes in search of a new territory and a new partner. The male tends to stay in the old territory and look for a new female to reproduce with there.
The Eurasian sparrowhawk isn’t one of the fastest birds of prey, as it’s outpaced by birds such as the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), which can travel at up to 240 miles per hour. However, the 75 miles per hour that sparrowhawks can reach are nothing to laugh at.
Like all birds of the Falconidae family, these animals are extremely fast and agile in flight. Their capacity makes them skillful predators of small, fast prey.
And here's something else:
We know that weaker and sicker animals are easier prey in nature. If a mammal limps, a bird flies poorly or demonstrates changes in its behavior that expose it more to predation, it’s very likely that it’ll be hunted rather than a healthy and strong animal. However, this isn’t always the case, as healthy animals are also often preyed upon.
Sparrowhawks feed mainly on passerines or songbirds. In addition, there’s a marked difference in the diet of the female and male Eurasian sparrowhawk. They hunt birds that weigh between 1.4 to 1.8 ounces. At most, they may hunt birds weighing up to 4.25 ounces. Their favorite prey are finches, sparrows, and great tits.
On the other hand, females have a predilection for larger prey. In general, the average weight of the birds hunted by a female sparrowhawk is between 1.75 and 2.5 ounces, but they’re able to capture animals weighing up to a little over a pound.
The most interesting thing about this is that, according to one study, these birds are able to select prey infected with blood parasites, such as Leucocytozoon or malaria. Infected birds are 16 to 25% more likely to be caught than those that aren’t.