Birds Of Japan 49:The Japanese sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) ツミ
Japanese Sparrowhawk ツミ Scientific name: Accipiter gularis The Japanese Sparrowhawk is a small, fast forest raptor. In Japanese it is called ツミ / Tsum
Japanese Sparrowhawk
ツミ
Scientific name: Accipiter gularis
The Japanese Sparrowhawk is a small, fast forest raptor. In Japanese it is called ツミ / Tsumi. It is the smallest hawk commonly found in Japan, with short rounded wings, a long tail, and quick agile flight through trees.
The male is small and neat-looking, with bluish-gray upperparts, pale underparts with fine orange barring, and often reddish-orange eyes. The female is larger, browner above, and more heavily streaked below. Like many birds of prey, the female is noticeably bigger than the male.
In Japan, the Japanese Sparrowhawk is found in forests, wooded hills, parks with tall trees, shrine groves, satoyama, and suburban woodland. It hunts small birds, insects, and sometimes small animals, often using trees and cover to surprise prey. In some areas, it may even nest near people if there are enough trees and food.
Habitat: Forests, wooded hills, satoyama, shrine groves, parks, suburban woodland
Range in Japan: Widespread in suitable wooded habitats; more common from Honshu southward, with seasonal presence in northern areas
Diet: Small birds, insects, small mammals, reptiles, and other small animals
Season: Summer breeder in many areas; some birds migrate south in winter, while others remain in warmer regions
Size: Male about 27 cm; female about 30 cm
Nesting: Builds a stick nest in trees, often hidden in woodland or tall groves
Behavior: Fast and agile; hunts by surprise from cover; often flies quickly between trees
Conservation: Native small raptor; healthy woodland, nesting trees, and prey-rich green spaces are important
The Japanese Sparrowhawk is a small and agile bird of prey found in Japan’s forests, wooded hills, satoyama landscapes, and green urban areas with tall trees. The male is smaller and bluish-gray with warm barring below, while the female is larger and browner with stronger streaking. The ツミ hunts small birds and insects with quick, sharp flights through trees, using cover to approach its prey. Though small, it is a skilled predator and one of Japan’s most elegant woodland raptors.
Japanese Sparrowhawk ツミ
The Japanese Sparrowhawk is a small and agile bird of prey found in forests,
woodland edges, parks, plantations, and tree-rich suburban areas in Japan.
It has short rounded wings, a long tail, sharp talons, and a compact body
built for quick flight through trees. Adult males are bluish-gray above
with warm barred underparts, while females are larger and browner.
Fast and secretive, this hawk hunts mainly small birds, but also takes
insects and other small animals. It often flies low and swiftly between
trees, using cover to surprise prey. During the breeding season, it may be
seen around quiet wooded areas, where its sharp calls can reveal its presence.
