known northern simply small bird prey family adult male bluish grey orange barred females juveniles brown brown barring female larger male largest differences sexes bird species predator catching woodland birds found habitat hunts garden birds towns cities males tend smaller birds including females catch primarily capable killing birds weighing found temperate subtropical parts birds northern parts range migrate south winter southern counterparts remain resident movements breed suitable woodland type nest measuring built twigs tree pale blue brown spotted eggs laid success breeding attempt dependent female maintaining high weight male brings food chicks hatch days days probability juvenile surviving year adults surviving year mortality young males greater young females typical lifespan years species common birds prey europe population crashed second world war treat seeds built bird population concentrations kill outright affected birds laid eggs fragile shells broke population recovered chemicals banned relatively common classified concern hunting behaviour brought conflict humans hundreds years particularly racing owners people blamed decreases populations increase population decline house britain studies racing deaths found responsible utilised 16th century species reputation difficult train praised courage species features mythology mentioned works writers including william_shakespeare alfred lord taxonomy family member large genus consists small medium sized woodland hawks old world members genus called species dates word old english hawk hunts thought coined encountered england english folk names include blue hawk referring adult male hawk hawk spur hawk stone falcon described 18th century work moved present genus french zoologist current scientific derived latin meaning hawk according greek mythology king turned daughter cut purple lock hair present lover enemy forms eastern southern africa possibly geographic variation birds larger paler eastern range compared west species subspecies generally recognised nominate subspecies described breeds europe west asia western siberia iran northern populations winter south mediterranean north east africa pakistan described breeds central eastern japan south northern china subspecies wholly migratory pakistan india eastwards southern china korea japan reach africa similar slightly larger nominate subspecies described breeds mountains afghanistan southern western china winters plains larger longer tailed dark slate coloured distinct barring described resident smallest races darker barred nominate subspecies described confined small dark described resident north west africa north similar large pale description small bird prey short broad wings long tail adaptations trees females larger males weigh twice marked size difference direction unusual higher typical birds prey marked birds prey hunt birds adult male long wingspan mass slate grey tending bluish finely red barred look plain orange distance orange yellow orange red female larger long wingspan mass dark brown brown brown barred bright yellow orange juvenile warm brown fringes barred spotted brown pale yellow eyes throat dark streaks lacks stripe pale darker example helps break bird outline exhibited birds prey hunt birds fast moving animals horizontal barring seen adult typical woodland dwelling predatory birds adult male bluish colour seen bird eating including falcon study stuffed bird models found small birds likely approach common brood parasite barred like reed found aggressive looked hawk like meaning resemblance hawk helps access nests potential hosts small bill feathers pulling prey apart killing cutting long legs toes adaptation catching eating birds outer toe fairly long slender inner toe toe relatively short thick middle toe long grasp objects underside toe means digit closed leaving gap helps gripping flight characteristic creating pattern species similar size levant larger calls different male slightly larger overlap sizes female confused similarly sized male northern lacks bulk species smaller slender shorter wings square ended tail fly faster confusion species china considerably larger great_britain living north bigger southerly counterparts wing length reliable indicator body size increasing average males females degree north lifespan oldest known wild lived decades found dead denmark years months having typical lifespan years data analysis shows proportion juveniles surviving year life adult survival year birds year life weigh adults especially light months reaching independence probably high mortality especially young males time study southern scotland suggested greater mortality young male birds smaller size smaller size prey means long meals size means range prey restricted estimated female average weight survive seven days feeding days longer male average weight study female found strong evidence rate survival increased years life declined years cause decline birds older distribution habitat widespread species temperate subtropical parts resident breeds estimated global range km2 estimated population million birds global population trends analysed numbers stable classified concern iucn race pairs resident pairs threatened loss habitat egg collecting illegal hunting listed annex common birds prey europe common common norwegian populations declining parts europe shot low level persecution affected populations badly population increased saw decline ireland common bird prey breeding near city centre dublin parks large gardens species prevalent woodland types range open country scattered trees prefer hunt edges wooded areas birds seen habitat increased proportion medium aged stands trees created modern forestry techniques benefited according norwegian study unlike larger relative northern seen gardens urban areas breed city parks colder regions northern europe asia migrate south winter north africa far east africa india members southern populations resident disperse juveniles begin migration earlier adults juvenile females juvenile males analysis ringing data collected germany found males females migrating birds russia average distance moved recovery ring read bird whereabouts reported subsequently males females study southern scotland found birds raised high grade territories recovered greater proportion birds came low grade territories suggested high grade territories produced young survived better recovery rate declined increased elevation ground post period female birds dispersed greater distances males food feeding predation major predator smaller woodland birds hunting attacks successful hunts surprise attack tree belts cover near woodland areas choice habitat dictated requirements makes use gardens built areas taking advantage prey found waits hidden birds come near breaks cover flies fast low chase follow hawk upside grab victim following foot vegetation prey great height describes seven modes hunting short stay perch hunting high soaring flight hunting low hunting sound hunting foot regularly kill birds weighing females tackle prey weight food consumed adult birds daily estimated males females year pair house common wood species feed open far cover conspicuous behaviour coloration taken example great house vulnerable attack account deaths certain species extent varies area area males tend females larger quarry die immediately feather eating bird species recorded prey individual certain prey birds taken usually adults chicks nest eaten small mammals including bats caught insects eaten rarely small birds killed impact foot especially long claws victims struggle hawk squeeze stab dealing large prey species hawk long legs help stands prey pull apart feathers usually breast muscles eaten bones left broken notch bill like birds prey produce containing parts prey range long wide round end narrow pointed usually composed small feathers larger ones consumed hunting species fly day rises tree level display territory longer journeys study forested area norway found mean size home ranges km2 males km2 females larger studies great_britain found probably lower land productivity associated lower prey species norwegian study area study looked effect population blue area pair began breed found annual adult survival rate area dropped rate adjacent plots change size breeding population changed fewer non breeding blue population woodland account deaths young great alarm calls given great predator fleeing nearby hawk hearing range prey predator high pitched alarm given distant flying seen heard research carried sussex england found impact predation grey highest density lowest year study scotland found select common according size condition probably hawks surprise attack hunting technique study found risk predation bird targeted northern increased fold prey infected blood parasite birds malaria times likely killed predators natural predators include barn owl owl northern falcon golden eagle eagle owl red fox stone pine breeding breeds grown extensive areas woodland coniferous mixed preferring forest structure dense open allow choice flight paths nest located fork tree near trunk branches begin horizontal branch lower canopy near tall available conifers preferred new nest built year generally close nest previous year old wood frequently uses old nests jungle nest base male work structure loose twigs long average diameter eggs laid lining fine twigs bark added breeding season adult male loses small weight feeding mate lays eggs young large require food weight adult female highest laying eggs lowest august breeding cycle complete study suggested number eggs subsequent breeding success dependent female maintaining high weight male feeding sexual maturity reached years stay territory breeding season years change mate usually change territory older birds tend stay territory failed breeding attempts likely birds kept territories higher nest success increase years females moved experienced success year changing territory eggs eggs pale blue brown spots measure inches weigh shell healthy egg usually clutch eggs laid eggs generally laid morning interval days egg clutch lost eggs laid smaller earlier eggs young chicks hatch days hatching female cares feeds chicks days life bad weather male provides food kills day week increasing day day week nest time female hunting days hatching young birds start perch branches near nest flight fed parents days staying close nest growing practicing flying stage extremely vocal cries parents heard considerable distance away young hawks disperse parents stop receive food male chicks roughly half size females mature quickly ready leave nest sooner study south west scotland found days old died causes death starvation wet weather predation parents parasite passed parent nest possibly number birds sharing small space allowing transmission relationship humans population europe crashed second half 20th century decline coincided introduction seed agriculture chemicals accumulated bodies grain eating birds effects predators like falcon shells eggs laid thin causing break birds poisoned lethal concentrations sub lethal effects substances include west_germany nests 1950s produced young successful 1960s 70s united_kingdom example species extinct chemicals widely western northern parts country declines bought nature reserve breeding site left use seed autumn banned levels chemicals present bird population began fall population largely recovered pre decline levels increase seen areas example northern europe sweden population decreased drastically 1950s recovered banned 1970s failure rate egg stage decreased year population reaching peak 1990s study eggs dutch found contamination persistent compound produced ddt breaks continued 1980s decline number broken eggs 1970s suggested decreasing levels chemical body tissue samples analysed conducted government average liver concentrations lower birds died compared died significant consistent decline conflict human interests adaptation feeding birds brought conflict humans 19th century described great enemy small birds destructive young chicks yards breeding season destructive writing recommended nest bird sought destroyed shooting parent birds possible written true enemy game time probable good evil weighed balance favour hawk favourite quarry wood increasing extent agriculture 18th century parish records southern england payments heads time efforts control numbers species suffered heavy persecution 18th century european landowners attempts example estate norfolk hawks killed taken scotland population able quickly replace lost birds high proportion non breeding non territorial birds able fill vacant territories habitat mind suited species prey successful efforts northern pine predators benefited population increased markedly pressure relaxed example second world wars united_kingdom research effect predators bird populations contentious issue perceived conflict interests nature involved game shooting declines populations british 1960s coincided considerable changes agricultural practices large increases numbers european population declined use great increase populations study species breeding acre surrey england present significantly greater numbers absent wood studies short term failed find effect populations caused predatory birds analysis long term large scale national data demonstrated declines farmland populations 1960s unlikely caused increased predation results study indicated patterns year year population change different sites predators present study examined effects predators including introduced grey populations found whilst small number associations suggest significant negative effects predator prey species majority species examined evidence increases common predators grey associated large scale population declines racing owners great_britain said years cause escalating losses called birds prey killed removed areas surrounding scotland year study published funded found evidence birds prey cause major losses racing races reported racing lost year proportion taken blamed major losses taken study carried researchers worked members provided data information rings found falcon nests january april conducted trial racing glasgow edinburgh trial cost supported representing country experiment originally scheduled early postponed birds breeding season criticised government ecological adviser government body organisations including findings released january showed seven removed area hawk returned twice area new birds began visit report found quantity quality data collected meant impossible draw firm conclusions government stated research involving trapping place maintained optimistic licensed trapping provide protection centuries favoured emperor great tradition catch common tunisia georgia registered monument city popular ireland tunisia turkey thousands captured year hunting common released end season kept migrants 17th century england priests reflecting status middle ages favoured ladies noble royal status small size male musket derived latin word meaning fly old french word famous list book saint refers female priest bird musket clerk bird undertaking train doubt taking difficult hawks available female considered bad choice male difficult demanding experienced described little hawks praised courageous providing sport highest quality describes ways superior hunting larger short wing hawk extremely hard best suited small quarry common common capable taking common 19th century author remarked species best hawks known corn dictionary noted serve winter summer fly kind game falcon winter prove good kill jay black bird divers birds like nature culture mythology known sacred bird old bohemian songs lives grove gods holy perch branches oak tree grows grave murdered man publish foul deed areas england believed common turned winter later use personal england norman conquest wrote long death king charles_ii hawk escaped perch pitched iron crowns white tower string crown hung heels died considered ominous proved musket originally kind bolt later small cannon named male size named mars series craft william_shakespeare merry wives windsor ford robin page words musket musket meaning lively young man hawk british poet wrote poem entitled refers species mentioned bird book bird referred thousand nights good bones hear birds flew written alfred lord proud hold wicked jail music sweet said set free song praise bird thee hawk replied lose diet let thousand enjoy quiet
Eurasian sparrowhawk