Common Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female juvenile
2016-03-12 Almaty. Republic Square. Park. 2015-09-03 Almaty. Republic Square.2005-11-13 Almaty, Republic Square	© Askar Isabekov © Askar Isabekov© Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds in middle current of Ural, in mountain and foothills of eastern, south-eastern and southern Kazakhstan, and in some places of northern Kazakhstan. On migration occurs widespread, winters mostly in south of Kazakhstan. Please see detailed distribution in the section Subspecies.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the coniferous and deciduous forests on plains and in mountains up to 2500 m in Zailiyskiy Alatau. In southern areas appears in March; most birds migrate in April and some observed until mid-May. To northern areas Sparrowhawk migrates in April - May. It needs to note that all late migrants caught at Chokpak Pass in April - May were immature second year birds. Breeds in separate pairs not close one to other. Nest is built in various trees, both deciduous and coniferous species (spruce, fir, apple, birch or aspen), at 2-10 m above the ground. Nest is built from dry twigs and is lined with old grass. Sometimes Sparrowhawks repair and use for breeding the old nests of Magpies. Clutches of 2-5 (usually 3-4) eggs is in mid-May – June. Female incubates for more than 30 days from the laying of the first egg and cares for chicks; male brings food for them. When chicks are well grown the both parents begin to fly for prey. Juveniles leave the nest in July - August and stay nearby nest for a long time, dependent from parental feeding. Autumn migration begins in end of August and continues until November, peaking in September - first half of October.

Subspecies

	Accipiter nisus nisus (Linnaeus, 1758) Description. Less than nisosimilis. Male wing length 188-210 (201), female 223-248 (236) mm. Distribution. Breeds in middle current of Ural valley, Northern Kazakhstan, Kokchetav forests, in Irtysh valley at Pavlodar, in South-West Altai, Kalbinskiy Altai, Kazakh Upland (Karkaralinsk, Konyr, near Akbastau), Dzhungarskiy Alatau and Northern Tien Shan. Nesting in Naurzum Reserve recorded in 1978. Widespread occurs on migration. Occasionally winters at Markakol lake (4-29 November 1980, 3 - 13 December 1980, 1 January - 31 March 1981), but usually in southern Kazakhstan.
	Accipiter nisus nisosimilis (Tickell, 1833) Description. Larger than nisus. Male wing length 200-219 (208), female 240-255 (247) mm. Distribution. Migrates in east and southern areas of Kazakhstan from October onwards. Winters on Syrdarya valley.
	Accipiter nisus dementjevi (Stepanyan, 1958) Description. Upper parts are darker, rusty tone of pattern on under parts more intensive than in nisosimilis. Under parts are lighter, sizes are less than in Himalayan race melaschistos. These distinctions are most obvious in males. Male wing length 205-210 (208), female 240-256 (250) mm. Distribution. This race nests in Western Tien Shan, where nests were found in 1966 and 1971.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.