Eurasian sparrowhawk

    Accipiter nisus

Castilian: Gavilán común

Catalan: Esparver vulgar

Gallego: Gabián

Euskera: Gabirai arrunta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Falconiformes

Family: Accipitridae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Even though it is not currently endangered, accidental deaths caused by fences, cables and illegal hunting have occured.

Length / size: 28-37 cm / 60-77 cm

Identification: Small bird of prey with short and rounded wings, a long tail and marked sexual dimorphism. The male's upper body and crown are slate grey, while his lower body is lighter in colour with a thin horizontal bar and a reddish tone that is most easily observed on his cheeks and flanks; his forehead is a fine white colour. The female is larger and heavier, and has greyish-brown plumage with a more lightly-coloured lower body with thin bars; her forehead is more distinct. In flight this birds appears pale, with a long, thin tail; it flies at a low altitude between trees.

Song: Silent; sometimes its crowing "keeoo keeoo keeoo" sound is audible.

Diet: It primarily feeds on birds of different sizes: goldcrests, blackbirds, sparrows, chiffchaffs, thrushes, etc. Females, which are more robust, eat larger species than males. This bird also hunts rodents, small lizards, and insects.

Reproduction: Its breeding cycle is later; the eggs are laid between April and June. The male builds the nest in the high part of trees, normally on top of an already-existing crow or dove nest; it is made of sticks and branches. The female incubates the eggs and, once the chicks have been born, she cares for them and feeds them with the prey that the male catches.

HABITAT

It commonly occupies forest areas, especially oak, pine and beech forests. In winter it can be seen in farming areas and grasslands, and it even enters urban areas and parks, where it finds an abundant source of prey.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: Very abundant in the north, whereas in the south it is exclusive to mountainous areas, such as Sierra Morena, the mountain ranges of Cádiz and Málaga, and Montes Universales.

In Castile and León: It breeds in all the provinces, and the densest concentrations are in northern Zamora, while it is rarer in Valladolid.

Movements and migrations: Central European and Nordic specimens reach the peninsula between September and November, later going to Gibraltar to cross the neighbouring continent. However, some of them will spend the winter in our latitudes.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 6000-10000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 800-1000 breeding pairs.