Tree Sparrow Passer montanus freezing in the presence of a Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

[..] A striking example of freezing behaviour in Tree Sparrows Passer montanus was observed at Tovetorp Zoological Research Station in south-eastern Sweden on 28 February 2002. I observed a Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus launching an attack, at 14.45 in the afternoon, towards a feeding station located underneath a birch tree where Great Tits Parus major, Blue Tits P. caeruleus, Tree Sparrows and Greenfinches Carduelis chloris where foraging. The Sparrowhawk attack was not successful, and as a result all birds at the feeder escaped apart from one Tree Sparrow. [..]

Johan Lind, Ornis Svecica 12 (2002)