Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk, common name for about 16 of the smaller Eurasian members of a large (48 species) hawk genus. The name was originally given to the widely distributed Eurasian sparrowhawk, which breeds across much of Europe and Asia, migrating farther south for the winter. The male is about 28 cm (11 in) long, and the female about 38 cm (15 in) long. In spite of persecution by gamekeepers, the species is still common in the British Isles, where it inhabits woodlands and farm country, feeding principally on small birds. The American kestrel, long called sparrow hawk, is a falcon, with little in common with the true sparrowhawks except its small size.

Scientific classification: Sparrowhawks belong to the genus Accipiter of the family Accipitridae, order Falconiformes. The Eurasian sparrowhawk is classified as Accipiter nisus. The American kestrel belongs to the family Falconidae and is classified as Falco sparverius.