THE SPARROW-HAWK 



ACCIPHER NISUS 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A widely distributed 

 resident. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'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 Grays, 

 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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