Sparrowhawk
- The female Eurasian sparrowhawk grows up to 40 cm, while the male reaches 28 cm. The female's wing length is 23.1–25.6 cm, and the male's is 19.6–21.2 cm.
- The wingspan of female Eurasian sparrowhawks is 68–77 cm, while that of males is 59–65 cm. Females are heavier: their weight ranges from 250–320 g, whereas males weigh 130–150 g.
- In flight, the Eurasian sparrowhawk is very maneuverable, able to catch prey by diving underneath it upside down.
Age
Eurasian sparrowhawks have a typical lifespan of from 15 years and 2 months to 25 years and 3 months, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 20 years and 3 months, and a theoretical lifespan ranging from 14 years and 4 months to 20 years and 6 months. The age of sexual maturity for the species ranges from 3 months and 1 week to 3 years. During the "Embryo" stage, the developing embryo grows within an egg, utilizing nutrients from the yolk and not feeding independently. The "Nestling" stage lasts from 3 weeks and 3 days to 1 month, during which the young are covered in down and completely dependent on their parents. Following this, the “Rapid Growth Juvenile” stage lasts from 6 months to 2 years as the young bird learns to fly and hunt independently. The "Adult" stage, when the species is able to reproduce and successfully hunt, lasts from 1 to 10 years.
Phenotype
The Eurasian sparrowhawk chick possesses a small beak already featuring a hook, and receives torn prey from its parents, while a quantity of soft down feathers helps retain body heat. Young birds after rapid growth have brown plumage on top and dark stripes underneath for camouflage, and they possess sharp claws on their feet to grasp and hold prey, as well as a number of wings that allow for quick maneuvering between trees. Adult Eurasian sparrowhawks have a short, strong beak with a sharp hook to tear prey, and a quantity of large yellow eyes with keen eyesight to spot prey from a distance. The female’s plumage is brown on top and white underneath with dark-brown stripes, whereas the male’s plumage is greyish-blue on top and white underneath with reddish stripes that aid in courtship displays. Adult birds have long, sharp claws that firmly hold caught birds, and a number of short, broad wings allow for sudden turns in forests during chases.
Physiology
The Eurasian sparrowhawk’s body length ranges from 29 to 41 centimeters, with a wingspan of 67 centimeters; its mass varies from 171 to 314 grams. The embryo stage has a body length from 3.5 to 4.2 centimeters and a body mass from 15 to 25 grams. During the fledgling stage, the young have a body length from 10 to 25 centimeters and a body mass from 20 to 180 grams. The post-fledgling stage shows young individuals with a body length from 25 to 38 centimeters and a body mass from 120 to 220 grams. Adult individuals have a body length from 29 to 34 centimeters and a body mass from 110 to 200 grams.
Habitat
The Eurasian sparrowhawk inhabits terrestrial landscapes and ground forests, with elevations reaching up to 2 kilometers; the species occupies temperate mixed forests characterized by warm summers and abundant oak, birch, and maple trees, as well as flooded meadows with plentiful grass where water frequently covers the ground, and taiga regions featuring cold winters and numerous coniferous trees such as fir and pine. The climate varies, including consistently wet conditions with frequent rain and high humidity, cool summers with significant rainfall and snowfall in winter, warm summers with abundant rain, warm summers and mild winters, and comfortable summers with temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
Shelter
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is located in the crown of a tall tree, where it builds or uses a nest as a shelter. The nest structure is built for laying eggs and raising young, and is constructed from twigs, small sticks, and bark.
Geography
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is found within the Palearctic biogeographical region and occupies several ecosystems, including Celtic broadleaf forests, broadleaf forests of Western Europe, coniferous forests of the Qilian Mountains, Balkan mixed forests, Baltic mixed forests, and coniferous and mixed forests of the Pyrenees.
Feeding
The Eurasian sparrowhawk preys on small birds and occasionally catches mice and large insects; it uses swift and maneuverable flight to ambush prey from cover. The species’ diet includes sparrows, grosbeaks, voles, shrews, field mice, rats, canaries, and hazel dormice. The hunting strategy involves active pursuit, ambushes, and quick aerial attacks. The daily food requirement ranges from 40 grams to 90 grams.
Reproduction
The Paradise-crow is a species whose embryo development takes 1 month. The female builds a nest and lays eggs, after which she sits on them almost all the time, while the male brings food. The brood size is 4–6 chicks, which are fed by both parents. Maturity in representatives of the species occurs at an age from 1 to 3 years, and the breeding interval is 1 year. The female’s offspring consists of 4–6 individuals.