Japanese sparrowhawk
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An illustration based on the real animal.
A little discovery to share.
The Japanese sparrowhawk builds its nest on sideways branches of pines and cedars.
THE REAL WORLD
The real Japanese sparrowhawk
- Scientific name
- Accipiter gularis
- Japanese name
- ツミ
- Group
- Birds
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Accipiter
It has the smallest body of all the birds of prey seen in Japan, and it can be seen near towns, too.
In spring, the male and female raise their chicks together, and the male fiercely attacks enemies such as crows.
How the Japanese sparrowhawk lives
It catches mainly small birds, as well as insects. In spring, the male offers food to the female as part of courtship. During autumn migration, it often flies alone.
新潟県Basic data
- Size
- Total length: about 30 cm
- Diet
- Small animals such as mice and small birds
- Range
- Japan, East Asia, and Southeast Asia
Where the Japanese sparrowhawk has been recorded
Records: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY 4.0 records, retrieved 2026-11-07). Map: Natural EarthSee the records on GBIF
Watch wild animals from a distance. Do not touch or feed them, and take care of the places where they live.
Names around the world
- 日本語
- ツミ
- 简体中文
- 日本松雀鹰
- 繁體中文
- 日本松雀鷹
- 한국어
- 조롱이
- Español
- Gavilancito japonés
- Français
- Épervier du Japon
- Deutsch
- Trillersperber
- Português (Brasil)
- Gaviãozinho-oriental
- Italiano
- Sparviero giapponese
- العربية
- باشق ياباني
- Bahasa Indonesia
- Elang-alap nipon
- Tiếng Việt
- Cắt Nhật Bản
- Русский
- Малый перепелятник
- Türkçe
- Japon atmacası
Names come from Wikidata and iNaturalist records. Where a language has no recorded name, we use the scientific name.
Sources and how we check
- 井の頭自然文化園 — ツミChecked: 2026-11-03
- 福岡県 — ツミChecked: 2026-11-05
- 新潟県 — ツミChecked: 2026-11-05
We check each fact against its source. The illustrations simplify how the real animal looks.
The classification (class, order, family, genus) follows Wikidata records, checked against GBIF. Classifications can change as research goes on.
The basic data are the values given in each source. They vary with how the animal is measured, whether it is male or female, and whether it lives in the wild or in captivity.
This page was translated from the original Japanese with the help of AI.
Report a mistakeWhen you meet the Japanese sparrowhawk, look for this
- Look at the dark blue-gray upperparts of an adult male.
Animals do different things from day to day, so you may not always see this.
新潟県EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Places that keep or show the Japanese sparrowhawk
Zoos, aquariums and other places whose official websites say they keep or show this animal.
Kanto
Displays can change with the animals’ health and the seasons. Check each facility’s official website before you go.
RELATIVES
Others in Accipitridae
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