any of certain Eurasian hawks; esp., a small hawk (Accipiter nisus) with short, rounded wings
☆ American kestrel
Origin:
ME sparowhawke: so named from preying on sparrows
See sparrow hawk in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A small hawk (Accipter nisus) of Europe, Africa, and central Asia that has short, broad wings and preys on sparrows and other small birds.
A small North American falcon (Falco sparverius) that hovers over fields and pastures, feeding chiefly on insects and mice. Also called American kestrel.