Short abstract from the book: The sparrowhawk is a common breeder in most of the country,
and the population has increased over the last 30 years. The
first sparrowhawk was ringed in Denmark in 1909, and the
number of ringed birds increased markedly during the 1970s
and ’80s. The majority of the recovered birds are ringed as
chicks, but some passage migrants have also been ringed in
mist nets.
Only a minor proportion of the Danish population is migratory: 11 % of the winter recoveries of sparrowhawks ringed as
chicks are from abroad. Young birds seem to be more migratory than older birds. The autumn migration of the migratory
sparrowhawks is directed SW on a route passing Germany,
the Netherlands, Belgium and France. A few have been recovered in Great Britain and Spain. All sparrowhawks recovered in France and Spain were young birds in their first or
second year. The mean winter position from 1910–1959 was
south of that in 1960–2002. The Danish sparrowhawks start
their return migration in February, and by the end of March
most have returned. Sparrowhawks from eastern Denmark
are more frequently recovered abroad than birds from western
Denmark. Furthermore, birds from eastern Denmark are
more frequent in France than birds from western Denmark.
More females than males are found abroad, 11 % and 5 %
respectively. Most sparrowhawks settle to breed close to their
birthplace.
Many sparrowhawks from Norway, Sweden and Finland,
Lithuania and Germany have been ringed or recovered in
Denmark. The Norwegian birds are mainly found in Jutland,
whereas the more eastern populations pass eastern Denmark.
Sixty-eight per cent of the recovered sparrowhawks died
during their first year of life. In the first year most died in
August and March. Before 1970, 50 % of the dead sparrowhawks had been shot; after 1970 this proportion decreased to 3 %. However, the proportion dying from collisions
has increased.
Read more about the species in the chapter from The Danish Bird Migration Atlashere
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