THE SPARROW-HAWK 
ACCIPITER NISUS 
LocaL names in surrounding counties : 
Status IN British Avirauna: A widely distributed 
resident. 
Rapiat DistRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: ‘The Sparrow-Hawk is much less rarely met with 
in the inner suburbs than the preceding species, possibly 
because it is not so aerial in its habits. It is a casual 
visitor to some of the London parks and commons, and 
certainly breeds at many places well within the fifteen- 
mile radius, as, for instance, in the Wimbledon and 
Richmond districts, about Hanwell, Sudbury, Wembley, 
Barnet, Enfield, Epping, Wanstead, the Kentish Crays, 
Ewell, and Epsom. In most districts the bird seems to 
be on the decrease, owing to the persecution of game- 
keepers and to the encroachments of the builder. I 
have seen this Hawk in Hyde Park, in Regent’s Park close 
to the Zoological Gardens, and more frequently in the 
vicinity of Neasden and Dollis Hill. As one gets further 
into the rural and well-timbered districts its appearance, 
of course, becomes more frequent ; although even in the 
heart of the country these Hawks are nowhere numerous, 
and a sight of them is only obtained at irregular and 
uncertain intervals. ‘They are solitary birds, and thinly 
distributed everywhere. 
For its size, the Sparrow-Hawk is one of the boldest 
and most rapacious of the Birds of Prey. It delights in 
well-timbered localities, woods and fields with tall hedges 
and plenty of trees about them. Although its wings are 
somewhat short and rounded it is capable of rapid flight, 
seen at its best when the bird is following some victim. 
It may often be met with gliding along the hedgeside in 
quest of prey, and with a sudden, lightning-like swoop 
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