Sparrowhawk attacks

[FUDGEY]

Has there been any studies done on Sparrowhawks hunting strategies? The reason I ask is because I spend several hours almost every day at my hide and I have become fascinated with these birds. On average I witness 4 attacks a day and I think I have noticed two different strategies in different weather conditions. First of all my hide is in a small clearing in a deciduous wood and it faces a steep wooded hill that is about 30 yards in front of my feeding station. When its windy the Hawks seem to come more often than not from the top of the hill and instead of following the contours of the land they continue flying in a straight line which takes them to a height of about 40ft up. They then seem to pick out a bird and turn and stoop onto it. On less windy days they can come from any direction low and at break neck speed. This happened 5 times today in a short time. How on earth they even see prey at this speed is almost unbelievable to me. I was thinking today that I now admire them more than a Peregrine simply because of the obstacles they have to avoid at times. As a matter of interest how fast can a Sparrowhawk go at max speed? It must be around 50mph??? Hope some one has some facts or even theories on this, perhaps Alan (Accipter) can help here?

[FUDGEY]

Here is one failed attack from today and the Male from the other day, think She heard the camera shutter

[aeshna5]

Have you read Ian Newton's monograph on the Sparrowhawk? This goes into some depth on hunting methods.

[billybirder]

My best sparrowhawk moment was stepping outside the back door and being eyeball to eyeball to a male sparrowhawk about three feet away on next door's fence. I stopped and gasped.. and he was off! Brilliant!

[Adam Cheeseman]

Studies carried out on behalf of the BTO have shown that Sparrowhawks only succeed once in roughly every 19 hunts.

Cheers,

Adam

[billybirder]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Studies carried out on behalf of the BTO have shown that Sparrowhawks only succeed once in roughly every 19 hunts.

Cheers,

Adam

That doesn't sound brilliant.. but fits with the number of times you see them crash into a bush and emerge empty clawed.. Do you know how many collared does would last them a day?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by billybirder

That doesn't sound brilliant.. but fits with the number of times you see them crash into a bush and emerge empty clawed.. Do you know how many collared does would last them a day?

One I imagine and possibly for a day or two if they manage to get a good feed without being disturbed.

Cheers,

Adam

[King Edward]

As well as Newton's monograph, which I haven't read, there is a small Shire Natural History book 'The Sparrowhawk', also by Newton, which is cheap and contains a lot of information on the species. Daily food requirement for an adult is apparently about 40-50 g for males and 50-70 g for females, equivalent to 2 or 3 Sparrows respectively.

With Peregrines, there is apparently a difference between low intensity and high intensity hunts, with the latter being much more in earnest and having a much higher success rate (and also tending to occur very early/late in the day). I don't know though if there's any such difference in Sparrowhawks.

[werdnal]

Our neighbour "ground feeds" the local blackbirds and has a large round holly bush in the middle of his lawn. Sparrowhawk appears, alarm calls all round, and the blackbirds dive into the holly bush. Sparrowhawk flies round and round the bush so much I'm surprised he doesn't get dizzy! Gives up, flies away, blackbirds gradually emerge and start feeding again. Tomorrow, same thing, roughly same time - its like groundhog day. I have only once seen him catch anything, so why does he still persist in wasting his energy and making himself look a twit!

[tigertom]

I have a few feeders and can have up to 30+ goldfinches as well sparrows starlings and tits in at any one time, sparrow hawk will try 1or 2 times a day and last week managed 2 goldfinches all week that I know of but have noticed he dos have a few attack plans one is from high up and strangely enough this was today in high winds but was unsuccessful, he can come in from any direction but seems to favor low and fast over field from right useing fence as cover his most successful method unless starlings are feeding they always spot him, dont no if same S hawk but had one comeing though most days though last winter as well and his methods were the same and about same success rate, one thing have noticed if he is successful birds back on feeders a lot quicker than when hes not.
MIKE