OMG !!!! I am i total shock !!! Have just heard a load of noise in my back garden and have gone out to see a male Sparrowhawk trying desperately to catch a grey squirrel in one of the bushes. I was not aware that these birds would take on any large birds let alone a squirrel ! is that unusual or are they getting so desperate for food that they are trying there hand at anything.I have to admitt although i'm not the Sparrowhawks biggest fan, it was extraordinary watching it trying to get it's talons into this squirrel. I'm just gutted it happened so quick that I didn't have chance to grab the camera.
Wow! At least you witnessed it! I think sparrowhawks will have a go at anything they feel they can manage! Did he get the squirrel?
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He wasn't able to kill it but definately had his talons in it as the squirrel was making such a noise and trying to run from it with the sparrowhawk still perched on top!! I am quite suprised at the strength of the bird that he was able to keep a hold on it as long as he did. Fortunately for Mr squirrel he won out this time.
Obviously the sparrowhawk bit off more than he could chew in this case! That's going to be one sore squirrel!
I'm still eagerly awaiting the day he starts on the hundreds of Feral pigeons we have in the area. My daughter loves Sparrowhawks and hates it when I chase them from the garden bu I have to admit to having just seen him in a new light.
Wow, that must have been quite something to see. I know what you mean about the camera - never within arm's reach when you most need it...
I looked up sparrowhawk diet in the Birds of the Western Palearctic, which states that their diet is almost exclusively birds. However, 17 species of mammals have been recorded, mainly voles and young rabbit, but also shrews, young hares, weasels, moles, wood mice, rats, squirrels and various bats. Less than 3% of the diet is mammals. You certainly witnessed something very unusual, and considering how fierce a cornered squirrel can be, I would think that a sparrowhawk must be pretty desperate to try to catch one...
Lynette, what a battle to watch in your garden. I am not sure whose side I would have taken, but I think I am glad that the squirrel escaped but then hope it wasn't badly injured.
I wasn't aware we had them in the area until quite recently. The number of Sparrows that visit my gardn has risen dramatically. I am not sure if thats as a result of the lack of others that feed in my area or successful breeding. But with the Sparrows came the Sparrowhawk. I've witnessed him catch one of my fledgling Sparrows and found it really hard to watch. But, I have to admit to having a new found respect for the fact that he would even consider taking on a Squirrel. I was not aware of just how vicious a Squirrel could be until now. I think that the Squirrel bit it's foot because until that point he showed no signs of letting it go.
I think that if the squirrel hadn't been trying to squeeze itself into the fat ball guardian then I don't think it would have happened at all. The Squirrels are so fast. It spent all morning bullying the birds away from the fat balls well the birds got their own back I think.
Unknown said: I wasn't aware we had them in the area until quite recently. The number of Sparrows that visit my gardn has risen dramatically. I am not sure if thats as a result of the lack of others that feed in my area or successful breeding. But with the Sparrows came the Sparrowhawk. I've witnessed him catch one of my fledgling Sparrows and found it really hard to watch. But, I have to admit to having a new found respect for the fact that he would even consider taking on a Squirrel. I was not aware of just how vicious a Squirrel could be until now. I think that the Squirrel bit it's foot because until that point he showed no signs of letting it go.
Hi Lynette
Sparrowhawks will feed on most small birds not just Sparrows, so the fact you have Sparrows is probably unrelated to the Sparrowhawks presence.
It's unusual for a Sparrowhawk to tackle a Squirrel and I suspect the attack was more to do with hunting/feeding territory than for food - ie. the Squirrel seen as a competitor and chasing the Sparrowhawk's dinner away!
Sparrowhawks are the 'canaries' of urban eco-systems. If they are hunting in the area, it's a very good sign that the area has a healthy wildlife population - with a good prey v predator ratio ie. where there's prey there's predators.
Hopefully, with more and more people feeding garden birds now, they will also come to accept that a hunting Sparrowhawk is a natural and welcome addition to their garden birds (even if it does run off with their favorite Mrs Blackbird!). More times than not, Sparrowhawk attacks end up with empty talons but it's worth bearing in mind, chasing a Sparrowhawk out of the garden could be a matter of death by starvation for that individual Sparrowhawk in the winter, and a matter of death for the chicks it must keep fed in the breeding season. Interrupting a Sparrowhawk when attacking, could also result in a seriously and fatally injured mammal/bird that ends up dying anyway, possibly very slowly, while the Sparrowhawk still goes hungry - a no win situation. It's best to shut your eyes and hold your breath til it's over if you're squeamish or sentimental about these things - or take some photos from a safe distance if you're not!!!
Good answer Sussex
I read that Sparrowhawks will go for Squirrels and I am sure that young Squirrels are fair game due to their size. Squirrels will be a great catch to a Sparrowhawk, and if they are youngster and are smaller to catch all the better.
Only just found that our myself in the last few days
Yes, as Squirrels will eat anything they will be competition. As Sparrowhawks want their 'songbirds' al la carte.
I had a Sparrowhawk catch one of my Dunnocks or Sparrows recently, and it was hard to watch all the bits of flesh being eaten. Still it gave a great chance for a photo and I even managed to gently open the Patio doors to get a better picture of the situation at hand
I did not have the heart to interrrupt the whole thing with the Sparrowhawk, and its dinner as it happened in front of me - I felt it was not my place to so.
Regards
Kathy and Dave