sparrowhawk
sparrowhawk Lexical Profile
sparrowhawk Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A small, short-winged hawk of the genus Accipiter, especially the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), characterized by a barred breast, a long tail, and great agility when hunting small woodland birds.
"A Eurasian sparrowhawk darted swiftly through the dense hedgerow in pursuit of a flock of finches."
North American A traditional common name for the American kestrel (Falco sparverius), a small, colorful falcon native to the Americas that hunts insects, rodents, and small birds in open habitats.
"Perched atop the telephone wire along the country road, the sparrowhawk scanned the grassy field for grasshoppers."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'sparrowhawk' refers to small woodland hawks of the genus Accipiter (especially Accipiter nisus), whereas in North America it was traditionally used as a colloquial name for the American kestrel (Falco sparverius), a small falcon.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'spearhafoc', a compound of 'spearwa' (sparrow) and 'hafoc' (hawk), literally meaning 'hawk that preys on sparrows'.