Sparrow Hawk PAIR - Vintage Irish Taxidermied Pair of Sparrow Hawks

Sparrow Hawk PAIR - Vintage Irish Taxidermied Pair of Sparrow Hawks - Accipiter Nisus - 1950s or 1960s Irish Taxidermy on Branch - TX1/08

Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey. They're adapted for hunting birds in confined spaces like dense woodland, so gardens are ideal hunting grounds for them. Adult male sparrowhawks have bluish-grey back and wings and orangey-brown bars on their chest and belly. Females and young birds have brown back and wings, and brown bars underneath. Sparrowhawks have bright yellow or orangey eyes, long, yellow legs and long talons. Females are larger than males, as with all birds of prey. The Eurasian sparrowhawk population in Europe crashed in the second half of the 20th century; the decline coincided with the introduction of cyclodiene insecticides, used as seed dressings in agriculture in 1956. The chemicals accumulated in the bodies of grain-eating birds and had two effects on top predators like the Eurasian sparrowhawk and peregrine falcon: the shells of eggs they laid were too thin, causing them to break during incubation; and birds were poisoned by lethal concentrations of the insecticides.

This beautifully displayed Vintage Irish pair from the 1950's/1960's is an adult female with another, probably juvenile, female - who is slightly smaller. We often have one of these amazingly fast birds shooting through our garden, trying to catch one of the smaller birds eating from our feeders. The wooden branch part of the stand is a renewal, replacing a degraded and unsuitable piece, leaving the original base. in place and displaying these hawks at their best.

The item will be carefully packed ( if possible using recycled materials ) and shipped using the Irish Postal system An Post, 
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This is a large item and delivery may take longer than usual.