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Revision as of 18:36, 24 September 2007
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- Accipiter nisus
Identification
This bird is a small raptor with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. The male is 29-34 cm long with a 59-64 cm wingspan, and is slate-grey above and barred reddish below. The male was formerly called a musket, and the gun called a musket was named after the bird.
The female is much larger at 35-41 cm length and a 67-80 cm wingspan. She is barred grey below, and can be confused with the similarly sized male Goshawk, but lacks the bulk of that species. The juvenile is brown above and barred brown below. The flight is a characteristic "flap – flap – glide".
Distribution
The most numerous and widespread Accipiter found almost throughout the region except for Iceland and the far north of Scandinavia and Russia. In the south breeds on the western Canary Islands, across North-West Africa and on Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Also breeds throughout Greece and Turkey (except much of the central plateau) and east to the Caspian. In the Middle East may breed regularly in Israel but rare.
Northern birds are migratory but over most of Europe this is a rather sedentary species. Winter visitor or passage migrant to much of Turkey; the Middle East and North Africa. Small numbers occur on passage at Gibraltar and the Bosphorus but much larger movements can be seen at Falsterbo. Peak periods here are mid August-mid November and April-early May.
Taxonomy
Subspecies In mainland Europe the nominate race is present but in Madeira and on Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma and Tenerife in the Canary Islands there is the smaller and darker race granti, on Corsica and Sardinia there is another small and very dark race wolterstorffi, and the large, pale race punicus occurs in North-West Africa from central Morocco to north Tunisia. The large Siberian race nisosimilis may occur in the south-east of the region in winter or as a vagrant to Europe but identification is difficult.
Habitat
Deciduous, mixed or coniferous woodland with adjacent open country. In recent years with decreased persecution has become commoner close to human habitation and is now moving into towns. In winter often found far from woodland, hunting along hedgerows in open farmland or in coastal areas.
Behaviour
This species nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It hunts birds in woodland or cultivated areas, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch or hedge-hops to catch its prey unaware.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Accipiter nisus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
