sparrow hawk

noun

a small, short-winged European hawk, Accipiter nisus, that preys on smaller birds.

American kestrel.

Origin of sparrow hawk

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sparrowhawk

Historical Examples of sparrowhawk

Mr. Knox has an interesting anecdote of a sparrowhawk at Burton.
Highways & Byways in Sussex
E.V. Lucas
Now the first who went to take the hand of the woman was Sparrowhawk.
Seven Mohave Myths
A. L. Kroeber
Sparrowhawk made a gesture of delight at this unexpected success.
The Prairie Flower
Gustave Aimard
There was a lengthened silence; Sparrowhawk was the first to break it.
The Prairie Flower
Gustave Aimard
Let the Bounding Panther and the Sparrowhawk be introduced to our presence.
The Prairie Flower
Gustave Aimard

British Dictionary definitions for sparrowhawk

sparrowhawk

noun

any of several small hawks, esp Accipiter nisus, of Eurasia and N Africa that prey on smaller birds

sparrow hawk

noun

a very small North American falcon, Falco sparverius, that is closely related to the kestrels

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012