The European sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a small diurnal bird of prey that is very common throughout Europe, easily recognisable by its pigeon-like size, slate-grey upperparts, dark grey underparts and eyes with yellow-orange irises. Sexual dimorphism is marked: the female is much larger, reaching lengths of up to 41 cm, while the male generally measures between 29 and 34 cm; the female also hunts larger prey, up to the size of a wood pigeon, while the male concentrates on small birds. It lives in a variety of habitats such as the edges of forests, copses, urban parks and gardens, often adapting its agile, stealthy hunting style to the environment in order to surprise its prey, using hedges and bushes as cover.
A specialist predator of small birds, the European sparrowhawk pursues its victims with low, rapid and precise flights, skilfully slaloming between branches and obstacles. It is one of the most widespread birds of prey in Europe and today enjoys a stable population, although this declined sharply after the Second World War as a result of pesticides. Its nest, made of twigs, is built high up in a tree, and the female typically lays 4 to 5 eggs. Opportunistic, it readily frequents peri-urban areas and even gardens, taking advantage of the concentration of prey species, which makes it a familiar visitor even in European cities.
Source: Perplexity.ai
Photo made in Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
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