Bird
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Size
28–38 cm (female much larger)Female the size of a Woodpigeon; male much smaller
Weight
150–260 g (male) / 260–350 g (female)About the weight of a large apple to a small orange
Lifespan
4 years
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Males are blue-grey above with orange-barred underparts; females are brown above with brown barring below. Females are 25% larger.
Habitat
Woodland, farmland, parks and gardens where small birds are common
Best time
Year-round
Conservation
UK: Green
LC
💡 Did you know?
Sparrowhawks catch prey with a burst speed of up to 50 km/h through dense undergrowth — they have been recorded flying through gaps smaller than their own wingspan
The extreme size difference between sexes (reversed sexual dimorphism) is thought to reduce competition between mates — each sex targets a different size range of prey
Often confused with
Peregrine (pointed wings
high soaring)
Kestrel (hovers
rusty back)
Goshawk (much larger
forest specialist)
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