The Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is a specialized avian predator common across the woodlands and gardens of Europe and Asia. This relatively small raptor is built for speed and agility within dense cover, making it a formidable hunter of small birds. The question of how many birds a Sparrowhawk eats daily does not have a single, fixed answer, as its metabolic requirements are constantly adapting to its environment and physical state. These daily consumption figures fluctuate significantly based on various biological and environmental factors.
Calculating the Average Daily Requirement
Sparrowhawks maintain a high metabolic rate, which necessitates frequent feeding to sustain their energy levels. An adult Sparrowhawk typically needs to consume between 10% and 15% of its body weight in fresh prey daily. For a small male (110–196 grams), this translates to a daily intake of approximately 40 to 50 grams of meat. A female Sparrowhawk, being significantly larger, requires a greater volume of food, needing about 50 to 70 grams of meat per day. Considering the average weight of a common small prey item like a Great Tit (18 grams) or a House Sparrow (25 grams), this means a single hawk must kill the equivalent of one to three small garden birds each day just to survive.
Variables Influencing Feeding Frequency
The number of birds consumed fluctuates widely due to a pronounced size difference between the sexes, known as reverse sexual dimorphism. Female Sparrowhawks are up to 25% larger and require a considerably greater amount of calories, sometimes up to 40% more than the male, to maintain their mass. Seasonal changes also drive consumption rates. In the colder winter months, the hawk must increase its food intake for thermoregulation.
The single largest demand occurs during the breeding season, when the male must hunt for himself, the incubating female, and a growing brood of nestlings. The total prey count for a successful family unit can increase drastically, requiring the male to deliver a high volume of small birds to the nest site. Juvenile Sparrowhawks also exhibit a higher feeding frequency due to the energy needed for growth and their initial lack of hunting proficiency. Their hunting success rate is lower than that of an experienced adult, meaning they must attempt more kills to meet their daily needs.
Prey Species and Hunting Strategy
The number of birds eaten is directly tied to the size of the available prey, which is dictated by the hawk’s sex. The smaller, more agile male specializes in catching smaller passerines, such as tits, finches, and sparrows. He is generally limited to prey weighing less than 40 grams. The larger female is capable of tackling significantly bigger prey, including Starlings, Thrushes, and birds up to the size of a Wood Pigeon (over 500 grams). This difference means a male might need to kill three small birds, while a female could satisfy her daily requirement with a single large meal. The diet is broad, with over 120 bird species recorded as prey.
Sparrowhawks employ an ambush hunting technique, relying on surprise and short bursts of speed to capture their quarry. They use cover, such as trees and hedgerows, to approach their target undetected before making a swift dash. This strategy is not always successful; only about one in ten attacks results in a kill. This low success rate means the hawk must expend energy on multiple hunting attempts daily.