SPARROW-HAWK.
ACCIPITER NISUS (Linn.).
Falco Nisus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 130 (1766).
Falco nisus, Naum. i. p. 258.
Accipiter nisus, Macg. iii. p. 346; Hewitson, i. p. 35; Yarr.
ed. 4, i. p. 88; Dresser, v. p. 599.
Epervier, French; FinJcen-Habicht, German; Gavilan,
Milano jaspeado, Spanish.
A very common resident in almost all parts of Great
Britain and Ireland.
The Sparrow-Hawk, in common with almost all the
raptorial birds of Northern Europe, follows the irregular
partial autumnal migrations southwards of the small
birds upon which it preys.
The four Plates represent an adult and a yearling
female, and males of the same respective ages.
I have not been able to procure a very old female, in
which the plumage closely resembles that of the adult
male.
S P A R R O W -H A W K .^
Accipiter nisus [Linn.') .
