Markus Varesvuo / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) adult female, Norway, October.

Rob Cousins / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) perched on bird feeder, Devon, UK, September.

Pal Hermansen / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) attacking Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Telemark, Norway, September

Markus Varesvuo / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) male and female in flight, Falsterbo Sweden September

Bert Willaert / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) being caught by a falconer using a Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) as bait, Georgia, September 2011.

Andrew Parkinson / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) adult killing and plucking feathers from collared dove. Derbyshire, UK, November. British Wildlife Photographer of the Year (BWPA) competition 2012, 'Animal Behaviour' ca...

Andrew Parkinson / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) adult with feather of collared dove in beak, after making kill. Derbyshire, UK, November. (Non-ex)

Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION / Adult female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) feeding on a collared dove kill in a garden, Derbyshire, UK, November 2011

Andrew Parkinson / 2020VISION / An adult female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) landing on a collared dove kill in a garden, Derbyshire, UK, November 2011. Did you know? In falconry sparrowhawks were traditionally used by priests.

Markus Varesvuo / Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) in flight. Hanko, Finland, September.

Grzegorz Lesniewski / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) perched. Bieszczady Mountains, the Carpathians, Poland, October.

Fergus Gill / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) watching for prey from a garden rowan tree. Perthshire, Scotland, September

Orsolya Haarberg / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female bathing, Hungary

Orsolya Haarberg / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female stretching leg, Hungary.

Bence Mate / Portrait of female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) drinking at waters edge, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Bence Mate / Female Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) bathing in water, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary

Stephen Dalton / Head on view of Sparrowhawk ( Accipiter nisus) flying in woodland, UK, controlled conditions

Roger Powell / Young male Sparrowhawk perched on plastic feeder in suburban garden, hunting for small garden birds. Northumberland, UK.

Stephen Dalton / Sparrowhawk {Accipiter nisus} in flight with feet extended for landing, UK

Andy Rouse / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female perched in tree in morning light, Wales, UK

Markus Varesvuo / Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) female in flight, Hanko, Finland

Laurent Geslin / Skeleton of a Sparrowhawk {Accipiter nisus}

Jose B. Ruiz / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) reflected in water, Alicante, Spain

Jose B. Ruiz / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Alicante, Spain

Markus Varesvuo / Sparrow Hawk (Accipiter nisus) in flight. Latvia. April

Kim Taylor / Sparrowhawk {Accipiter nisus} foot and talon. Captive, UK.

David Kjaer / Male Sparrowhawk at water. Sussex, UK

David Kjaer / Female Sparrowhawk feeds chicks in nest. UK

David Kjaer / Female Sparrowhawk with chicks in nest. (Accipiter nisus) UK

Bengt Lundberg / Sparrowhawk (female) with Whitethroat prey, Sweden

Walter Soestbergen / Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) male, Utrecht, Netherlands

Duncan Usher / Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female calling, Hessen, Germany

Pal Hermansen / Portrait of a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), Telemark, Norway.

Pal Hermansen / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) perched on branch, backlit by evening sun then flies out of frame, Telemark, Norway.

Mateusz Piesiak / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) after landing on a mossy perch. Wroclaw, Poland.

Warwick Sloss / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) adult male, preening on garden trellis, Somerset, UK, April..

Warwick Sloss / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) adult male, preening on garden trellis, Somerset, UK, April..

Warwick Sloss / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) adult male, looking at camera on garden trellis, Somerset, UK, April..

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) immature male on wood pigeon reacting to arrival of female North Norfolk, England, UK, April.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) immature male on wood pigeon reacting to arrival of female, North Norfolk, England, UK, April.

David Pattyn / Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) murmuration, flock gathering before landing at winter roost, hunted by raptor, likely a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). The Netherlands. February.

David Pattyn / Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) hunting Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) flock in murmuration before landing at winter roost. The Netherlands. February.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female mantling prey. North Norfolk, England, UK. April.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) juvenile male mantling Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) prey and vocalising in reaction to arrival of female. North Norfolk, England, UK. April.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female standing on male Blackbird (Turdus merula) prey in woodland. North Norfolk, England, UK. April.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female standing on male Blackbird (Turdus merula) prey in woodland. North Norfolk, England, UK. April.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female landing. North Norfolk, England, UK. March.

David Tipling / Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) female feeding on Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) prey. North Norfolk, England, UK. January.