Question about sparrowhawks

[leeroy]

Do sparrowhawks hover ?

I saw 3 sparrowhawks today over Ashenbank woods in Kent, same place I keep spotting buzzards. They appeared to be doing the same as the buzzards I saw recently & teaching juveniles the ropes.

They were soaring above the tree canopy & sort of hovering or to be more specific hanging still in the wind with the odd flap of wings, but never for more than around 30 seconds or so before soaring up, then floating back down to repeat it.

The juveniles were flying nearby, then coming in closer to the adult & mimicking the same actions, every now & then they would dive really fast into the woods.

[pressld2]

My understanding is that quite a few birds of prey can hover briefly if they have the wind to help them, but only the kestrel can do it for extended periods and on windless days.

I watched an osprey at Rothiemurchus do it but only for two or three seconds each time.

Dave P.

[leeroy]

Originally Posted by pressld2

My understanding is that quite a few birds of prey can hover briefly if they have the wind to help them, but only the kestrel can do it for extended periods and on windless days.

I watched an osprey at Rothiemurchus do it but only for two or three seconds each time.

Dave P.

It was quite windy today & it seemed to be wind assisted as opposed to the kestrels actually really working at it , if you know what I mean, more like hanging rather than hovering.

[bee warrior]

I've never seen a Sparrowhawk looking proficient at hovering, certainly not like a Kestrel does. But I do see them having a go and if they catch a good thermal or breeze they momentarily look like they know what they are doing

[RoyW]

Sparrowhawks don't hover in any way when hunting, unlike Kestrels, which use hovering regularly (and Buzzards, Ospreys and Kites, which will all hover somewhat clumsily).
What I think is being described here is Sparrowhawks soaring over their territory (which is how they advertise their presence), and in this case I do not think that it would be unusual for them to 'hang' temporarily in the air if wind conditions were suitable.