Female Sparrowhawks (Male vs Female: Identification Guide)

Sparrowhawk (hawkbill) are the most common birds of prey in gardens across the UK – you might even get a quick glimpse as they swoop down to snatch chicks from the nests of birds like house sparrows, blackbirds and blue tits.

But is it possible to tell if a male or a female bird is involved in an ambush in your backyard? Our guide tells you everything you need to know to become an expert at differentiating male and female sparrowhawks.

How do you know if a sparrowhawk is male or female?

Distinguishing between male and female sparrowhawks is easy because the sexes differ in coloration and size. When viewing males and females side by side, there is little confusion about which is which.

Male sparrowhawks have slate gray backs and pale underparts with orange-red stripes. Females, by contrast, are dark brown with brown stripes on their pale underparts. Male sparrowhawks are about the same size as collared turtledoves, while female sparrowhawks are larger, heavier, and have a wider wingspan.

female sparrowhawk

sparrowhawk

What does a female sparrowhawk look like?

The female sparrowhawk is about the same size as the wood pigeon. They have a dark brown upper body and a lighter lower body with brown feathers. Females have a distinctive white stripe above the eye.

Female Eurasian sparrowhawks, like their male counterparts, have bright yellow legs, and both sexes have yellow beaks with hooked black tips. The eyes of adult sparrowhawks are a harsh bright yellow, but may change to a deeper orange-red hue as they age, although the eyes of female sparrowhawks may retain more of their yellowish hue.

Both male and female juvenile sparrowhawks have a dark brown upper body that looks similar to adult females, but the stripes on their lower body are irregularly striped across the chest.

Female Eurasian Sparrowhawk Perched

What is the female sparrowhawk’s name?

Female sparrowhawks are called hens, while male sparrowhawks are called roosters.

Are female sparrowhawks bigger than male sparrows?

Female sparrowhawks are about 25 percent larger than males and weigh twice as much. Females can reach a maximum length of 41 cm (16 inches), while males can reach a maximum length of 34 cm (13 inches). Female sparrowhawks have a wingspan of 67 to 80 cm (26 to 31 inches), while males have a wingspan of 59 to 64 cm (23 to 25 inches).

female sparrowhawk in flight

behavioral difference

There are significant differences between male and female sparrowhawks in terms of diet and hunting, nest building, role in raising young, speed and agility, and even life expectancy. Most of them are directly or indirectly related to the size difference between male and female birds.

sing and call

Outside of the breeding season, both male and female sparrowhawks are relatively quiet birds, and their calls are usually only heard close to their nests. Its main call is a fast chatter or a raspy “cough cough cough cough cough‘. Nesting females and their young call for food in high-pitched voicesPierre‘cry.

female sparrowhawk about to take off

nesting

Sparrowhawk nests are built by both males and females over several weeks, with the male doing most of the work.

On average, females lay 3 to 6 eggs and are solely responsible for hatching. While the female is incubating, she does not leave the nest and is regularly brought food by her mate.

Hatching begins about 32 days after hatching, with the female helping the chicks emerge one by one over successive days. At first, the female sparrowhawk remains in the nest to protect the young and keep them warm, while the male continues to hunt and bring food alone.

Once the chicks have gained enough strength and resilience to be left unattended for a short period of time, the female sparrowhawk will leave the nest to hunt and will bring back more feed for the chicks, although the male will continue to bring food. Juvenile sparrowhawks are ready to fledge after 28 days (males) and 30 days (females), but will continue to be fed by two parent birds for up to four weeks.

Sparrowhawk hatching eggs in nest

feed

Due to their size, female sparrowhawks are able to successfully hunt larger birds than males. Males usually prey on chickadees, finches, and house sparrows, while females prey on larger birds such as starlings, thrushes, thrushes, and even magpies and pigeons. The extra size and weight mean that females move more slowly than males, so tend to prey on slower-moving birds.

Female sparrowhawks need to consume more food per day than males, 40 to 50 grams (1.4 to 1.8 ounces) for males and 50 to 70 grams (1.8 to 2.5 ounces) for females.

Sparrowhawk feeding on recently caught prey

life expectancy

Differences in body size between male and female sparrowhawks directly affect their mortality and ability to survive. Due to their larger size and larger reserves, females can go without food for a long time, estimated to last 7 days, while males of average weight are not expected to exceed 4 days.

Generally, female sparrowhawks have a longer life expectancy than males. Women live an average of 10 to 11 years, while men live an average of 7 to 8 years. More females than males survive beyond a year.

Can a female sparrowhawk raise her offspring alone?

Both parents have important responsibilities in raising the chicks and must meet the feeding needs of the chicks. Female sparrowhawks depend on the male for predation while brooding. The male continues to bring food to the nest to feed the female and newly hatched chicks until the chicks are old enough to leave.

A female sparrowhawk perched on a branch in the woods

Are sparrowhawks’ tails red?

Female sparrowhawks do not have red tails. They are mostly brown with gray stripes on their tails. Male sparrowhawks also don’t have red tails, but instead are dark gray with dark brown stripes on their tails. Birds of prey with red tail feathers include the red kite and red-tailed hawk, although they do not live in the UK.