Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus

[KevinA]

I'd gone out to my portable hide in the garden, sat down and immediately saw a male Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus land on a branch at the bottom of the garden, 68ft away. My Garden is on three levels, and the bottom level is perhaps 12ft below the top level. This put the bird slightly below me in the tree. I managed a few shots before he disappeared. Things were quiet on the feeders for quite a while after.
Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus

Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus

Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus

 

[AlanLichty]

Easy to see why your feeders were quiet with this guy lurking for a chance to feed off of those your feeders attract. Great shots of the hawk.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Great images, Kevin. Are these birds the size of the American Kestral?

 

[Joe Colozzo]

beautiful

 

[BlackRockArt]

I'd gone out to my portable hide in the garden, sat down and immediately saw a male Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus land on a branch at the bottom of the garden, 68ft away. My Garden is on three levels, and the bottom level is perhaps 12ft below the top level. This put the bird slightly below me in the tree. I managed a few shots before he disappeared. Things were quiet on the feeders for quite a while after.
Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
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Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
View attachment 74499

Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
View attachment 74500

What a cute.... bird ! The sparrowhawk a lightening fast predator.

Oliver

 

[KevinA]

Easy to see why your feeders were quiet with this guy lurking for a chance to feed off of those your feeders attract. Great shots of the hawk.

Thanks Alan, I suppose they weed out the sick and injured so are an essential part of the food chain.

Great images, Kevin. Are these birds the size of the American Kestral?

Thanks Douglas. Size differences are
American Kestrel
The bird ranges from 22 to 31 cm (8.7 to 12.2 in) in length with a wingspan of 51–61 cm (20–24 in).
European Sparrowhawk
The adult male is 29–34 cm (11–13 in) long, with a wingspan of 59–64 cm (23–25 in)
The female is much larger at 35–41 cm (14–16 in) long, with a wingspan of 67–80 cm (26–31 in).

beautiful

Thank you Joe

What a cute.... bird ! The sparrowhawk a lightening fast predator.

Oliver

Thank you Oliver. Don't often see one perched, it's usually just a quick flyby

 

[Trent Watts]

Beautiful shots Kevin. These look really similar to our Sharp-shinned Hawk.