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Winter brings the smaller birds of prey to the bird feeder surroundings - the more snow there is, the more often. They wait, motionless, in the top of a tree or on some technical contraption, then launch a lightning quick attack that may offer the raptor a chance of success.
 

The sparrowhawk females are bigger than the males, and more grey in colour. They even manage to capture domestic pigeons. The male bird is just a shade bigger than the domestic pigeon and his prey are thrushes and the like.

 

In flight the sparrowhawk is very fast and the rushes through the bare tree crowns are very impressive. The winter number is around a few thousand individuals.