Accipiter nisus is a widespread breeder across most of Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is large (>340,000 pairs), and underwent a large increase between 1970-1990. Although there were declines in a few countries during 1990-2000, populations were stable or increasing across most of Europe-including the key one in Russia-and the species increased slightly overall.
There are 32 000 breeding pairs in Britain with a further 11 000 in Ireland. Including non-breeders, by the end of summer the resident population will probably be around 170 000 birds. 150,000-170,000 breeding pairs widespread throughout most of Europe. The UK is a stronghold with about 34000 pairs. Russian population 140000-180000 Turkish population 3000-10000.

Breeds and winters in woodland, particularly coniferous, and also occurs in winter in farmland and even gardens

Eggs from late April or early May in Britain and north-west Europe. Up to 2 weeks earlier in southern Europe and 2-3 weeks later in northern parts of range. The nest is build in the fork of tree, often close to trunk where 2 or 3 branches start at same level. Also on horizontal branch, usually in lower parts of main canopy. Conifers are preferred where available. Selected tree usually close to path or clearing for convenient access. A new nest is built each year, sometimes on foundation of old nest of Woodpigeon or other species, though normally close to previous nests. The nest is a loose structure of twigs with deep cup. Nest size varies with position in tree, with nests in forks built up until surface area is large enough. Twigs up to 60 cm long are used, during laying, lined with fine twigs or bark chips. The clutch size is 4-6 (3-7) and the incubation lasts 33-35 days per egg, average 39-42 days for complete clutch. The young fledge after 24-30 days, males before females.

The sparrowhawk is a specialist feeder, as its name suggests. It takes birds of varying sizes, from finches and sparrows, to the size of wood pigeons. It does on occasions take small rodents and other small land based prey, but birds account for well over 90% and maybe as high as 98% of their diet.

This species has a large range, with an estimated global extent of occurrence of 100,000-1,000,000 km2. It has a large global population estimated to be 1,000,000-10,000,000 individuals (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001). Global population trends have not been quantified, but populations appear to be stable (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001) so the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e., declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Migratory in northernmost parts of Europe and in most of Asia. Partially migratory in Central Europe. Sedentary in South of range. Various Central European countries receive Northern migrants, some of their breeding birds possibly migrating further South, reaching Mediterranean countries. Most migration actually from North-East to South-West. Few migrants reach Africa, although some birds winter in North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, occasionally South to Kenya and Tanzania. Siberian population winters in South and South-East Asia.

article number 1 Title
Causes and consequences of breeding dispersal in the Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
Author(s): Newton I . 2001
Abstract: Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus were present on particular territories for only one breeding season, but others were present on the same territory for up to eight seasons. Short periods of occupancy wer..[more]..
Source: Ardea 89(special issue) : 143-154
download full text (pdf)

article number 2 Title
A test of the condition-bias hypothesis yields different results for two species of sparrowhawks (Accipiter) A Test Of The Condition-Bias Hypothesis Yields Different Results For Two Species Of Sparrowhawks (Accipizter)
Author(s): Edna Gorney William S. Clark, and Yoram Yom-tov
Abstract: Determination of body condition of birds is important for many field studies. However, when using trapping methods based on food as a lure, the sample of trapped birds could be biased toward individua..[more]..
Source: Wilson Bull., 111(2), 1999, pp. 181-187
download full text (pdf)

article number 3 Title
The abundance of essential vitamins in food chains and its impact on avian reproduction
Author(s): Arnold B. van den Burg
Abstract: Birds produce fewer or less viable eggs if the micro-nutrient requirements for reproduction cannot be met. For example, embryos from failed eggs of European sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus often show an..[more]..
Source: Acta Zoologica Sinica 52(Supplement): 276-279, 2006
download full text (pdf)

article number 4 Title
Age-related trends in the breeding success of individual female Sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus
Author(s): Newton I. & Rothery P.
Abstract: Overall, female Sparrowhawks improved in the mean number of young they raised per year up to the 5th year of life, and then declined. An attempt is made to find to what extent this mean trend is cause..[more]..
Source: ARDEA 86 (1): 21-31.
download full text (pdf)

article number 5 Title
WEIGHTS, BREEDING, AND SURVIVAL IN EUROPEAN SPARROWHAWKS
Author(s): I. NEWTON, M. MARQUISS, AND A. VILLAGE
Abstract: No significant diurnal variation in mean weight was detected in trapped European Sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus). Weights of males fluctuated rather little through the year, but were highest in March a..[more]..
Source: The Auk 100: 344-354. April 1983
download full text (pdf)