Protected Sparrowhawk spotted in Herefordshire

Chris Prosser captured a photo of a sparrowhawk in the county.

Sparrowhawks, small birds of prey, are specially adapted for hunting in confined spaces such as dense woodland, making gardens ideal hunting grounds.

They are protected in the UK and are known for their speed and agility, which often makes them difficult to spot.

The species has faced challenges in the past, particularly during the 1950s and 60s when their numbers saw a significant decline due to organochloride pesticides.

These chemicals accumulated in the food chain, causing the sparrowhawk eggshells to become thin and prone to breaking during incubation.

The ban of these pesticides led to a recovery in sparrowhawk numbers.

However, between 1995 and 2023, their population decreased by 25 per cent, placing them on the Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List.

Sparrowhawks can be identified by their distinctive features.

Adult males have a bluish-grey back and wings with orangey-brown stripes on their chest and belly.

Females and juveniles sport a brown back and wings with brown stripes underneath.

Both genders have striking yellow or orangey eyes, yellow legs and talons, and a T-shaped silhouette in flight with a long square-ended tail and blunt wing tips.

They also exhibit a distinctive ‘flap-flap-glide’ flight pattern.

Sparrowhawks can be seen almost anywhere in the UK, except for parts of Scotland, with woodlands, farmland, and gardens being their most common habitats.