Birds of prey include sparrowhawk, kestrel and tawny owl.
A sparrowhawk flew into the room, seized the goldfinch, and he was never seen again.
Butterflies include white-letter and purple hairstreaks, and there are breeding birds such as sparrowhawk and tawny owl.
The most important predator is probably the sparrowhawk, closely followed by the domestic cat.
That is an infinitely more common bird, where the environment is remotely suitable for it, than the sparrowhawk and in the opinion of most people it does far more damage.
In 1986 no licences were issued to take merlins from the wild; 45 licences were issued to take sparrowhawks from the wild, and 39 sparrowhawks were taken.
Other than a lack of food—especially a lack of food before winter—and differences in stubble treatment, the vast increase in sparrowhawks seems to be a factor in their disappearance.
Hedgerows give some protection against sparrowhawks.
