| Males are smaller than the females with a slate grey back,
white underparts which are barred with orange and a grey tail with bars.
Females have brown upperparts, a white stripe over the eye and dark barring
underneath. They have broad, rounded wings and a long tail to enable to
weave in and out of trees at high speed chasing their prey of small birds.
The larger female will take birds as big as thrushes and starlings even
pigeons, while the male preys on smaller birds like sparrows, finches and
tits. A bird of woodlands and hedgerows they have extended their territory
into parks and gardens; as in these photographs taken on visits to own garden. |
