BIRD OF THE MONTH.

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Probably our most common raptor.  A bird of woodland and thick hedges which frequently comes into gardens, especially where there may be a bird-feeding station.  Recognisable in flight by having short but broad wings with blunt tips and a proportionately long, slim tail.  Flight usually consists of a few rapid wing beats followed by a short glide often close to ground level.  The bird in this photograph would appear to be a male juvenile.  Adult upper parts are more slate-grey and only the male has rufous barring on the breast and belly.  Females have brown-grey barring.  Like most raptors females are considerably larger than males.  They are solitary nesters building in trees using a pile of twigs lined with some vegetable material where the female lays 4 to 6 eggs.