Check out our latest magazine... Read Online

Natural Living: The Sparrowhawk in Sussex

Sparrowhawks are now fairly common throughout the country and more of us can enjoy the breathtaking sight of these spectacular, small birds of prey.

Just woken, I caught sight of fast turning wings just outside the bedroom window; as their owner settled on a nearby branch just a few feet away, I had a clear and unforgettable sight of a male sparrowhawk.

Considerably smaller than his female counterpart, the male weighs just half of her weight and is about a quarter shorter than her; this fellow perched long enough for me to see him in superb detail.

With a grey back and wings and barred orange brown bars on his chest, he held his body still while turning his head, searching the garden for prey.

Even at his size, the male is still capable of bringing down birds large as a thrush; sparrowhawks’ main prey are small birds although they’ve been recorded predating on 120 species, including bats.

I’ve only ever seen a female attack her prey, bringing down a pigeon in the middle of a road, but these birds have a reputation for tenacious hunting.

They are able to follow birds at speed, even through gates, tilting themselves to fit through and often plucking and eating their unfortunate victims while still alive.

They perform a vital role in keeping their prey populations healthy as they weed out the unwary and sick and contrary to popular belief they do not a affect songbird numbers, as their own population only increases with prey numbers.

They hunt by surprise, bursting after their prey and sadly they sometimes fatally crash into windows during pursuit.

Sparrowhawks that return to the same nesting territory in successive years will usually keep the same mate; this must be a relief for the smaller males as the female can and sometimes does kill a courting suitor.

Once paired, the male provides the female with extra food so that she has sufficient fat to lay eggs and most young sparrowhawks will then breed within a few miles of where they were raised.

The male can live until he is seven or eight, but his mate can outlive him by up to four years.

And thankfully, since the banning of DDT pesticide, sparrowhawks are a more common sight.

One of the most mesmerising aspects of the sparrowhawk I noticed were his piercing, bright yellow eyes; he stared right at me once or twice and I could see the small black iris in the centre.

In some older males the eye can turn orange or occasionally red.

His beak too was clear in perfect detail; needle sharp and hooked, it is the ideal killing tool and I can see why songbirds fear this agile hunter, always on the lookout for their presence.

More from Animals

  • It's a Dog's Life: Teddy & the Dragon

    Teddy has been musing on the origins of national credentials and that the truth of the matter could be quite different to any literal interpretation, as his human translator Helen Stockton explains

  • Paws for a Cause

    Sussex-based animal charity Raystede has been working tirelessly to improve the lives of animals for over 70 years. Hanna Prince visits its Sussex site to find out more

  • Kids Zone: Lambing in Spring

    Tap into the super cute side of spring with a visit to some frisking newborn lambs, suggests Sara Whatley

  • It's a Dog's Life: Access Denied

    Although he's not allowed everywhere, Teddy tells his human interpreter Helen Stockton that he's actually OK with that

  • It's a Dog's Life: February is not just for Pancakes

    Teddy has discovered that the month of February is far from uneventful – with many special days to recognise and celebrate, as his human interpreter Helen Stockton explains

  • It's a Dog's Life: Cleaning Up

    The annual January household clean up makes Teddy feel a bit anxious. Helen Stockton, his human translator, explains that Teddy isn't the greatest fan of cleanliness

  • Top 10 Garden Birds to spot in Sussex

    Alice Johnson from the RSPB describes some of the species of birds you might see during the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this January

  • Top Tips: Keep Your Pets Safe this Bonfire Night

    Bonfire Night is just around the corner. A night of fireworks and celebrations, it's fun for us, but not always for our pets.

  • Advertising Feature: Plan Bee

    Advertising Feature: The relationship between bees and humans dates back thousands of years, so its reassuring to know that Carl Slade is making beekeeping easier for both the novice and experienced apiarist; we sent Robert Veitch to meet him.

  • It’s a Dog’s Life - The Quiet Life

    Teddy is looking forward to a chilled out month of rest and relaxation, hopefully with some sunshine to bathe in, as Helen Stockton, his human translator explains.

  • What should you be looking out for in your Sussex Garden this Summer?

    A Sussex garden is not only a place of beauty and tranquility but also a haven for a diverse range of captivating wildlife. We have complied a list of some of the wildlife that you’re most likely to see in your garden this summer:

  • A Summer of Wildlife at RSPB Pulborough Brooks

    Alice Johnson from the RSPB offers her handy guide to spotting beautiful butterflies and wildflowers at this nature reserve within the Arun Valley in West Sussex

  • RSPCA Young Photographer Awards opens for entries

    Budding young photographers are being encouraged to enter the RSPCA’s high-profile national young photography competition which is now celebrating its 33rd year. 

  • 10 ways to keep your dogs cool in the heat

    From serving up delicious frozen treats to creating a ‘cooling cave’ - animal welfare experts have shared their tried and tested ways to help your dog stay comfortable this summer.

  • It's A Dog's Life: March Column

    Still sporting a thick winter overcoat, Teddy contemplates a trip to the doggy salon for some spring cleaning and grooming, as his human interpreter Helen Stockton explains

  • PET OF THE MONTH: Ruby needs a forever home

    Raystede has many dogs that are victims of the pandemic. They have received special training and are now ready for their forever homes. This month we meet Ruby, a 2 year old Lurcher.

  • It's a Dog's Life: Other Cultures...

    As Halloween approaches, Teddy has been pondering the influence of other cultures upon our own. Told as ever by ‘Her Indoors’, the chief provider of treats, Helen Stockton

  • Ten Ways to Help Hedgehogs

    To celebrate its 10th birthday, nationwide campaign, Hedgehog Street, is asking members of the public to do 10 things to help hedgehogs throughout 2021. The campaign launched by wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) aims to encourage people to make their gardens more hedgehog friendly, in order to help stop the ongoing decline of Britain’s favourite mammal.