Sparrowhawk Joins Couple on Car Journey

An Oxford couple has recounted their “rare and unlikely” experience after a sparrowhawk unexpectedly flew into their vehicle. Richard and Helen Dodd were driving near Bury Knowle Park in July when they initially heard “a sudden bang.” Several minutes later, they discovered “a young male sparrowhawk hopping around” in the rear of their car, as they informed BBC Radio Oxford. Mrs. Dodd stated that the bird had entered through an open window while they were traveling at 30mph (48 km/h). She, occupying the front passenger seat, noted that her husband, who was driving, had reduced speed upon hearing the initial thud. “Nothing untoward was apparent and we assumed it was a small branch from an overhead tree,” she said. “When we turned left at the roundabout towards Oxford, we gathered speed to 50mph and wound up the windows to reduce traffic noise.” At that point, they began to perceive “a strange rustling in the back,” she continued. “We have a people carrier car, but… we had all the rear seats out to save fuel,” she explained. “I turned round and I couldn’t believe my eyes – there was a sparrowhawk hopping around,” “After about two miles, we were able to pull in to open the car boot and he flew joyously away, apparently unharmed.” Mrs. Dodd expressed amazement at the bird’s “precision of flight and eyesight to enable this bird to have flown over my head into the rear of the car.” Describing it as “a miraculous event from nature,” she concluded: “We shall always remember our extra special passenger.” Chris Sperring MBE, a conservation officer for the Hawk and Owl Trust, expressed “not at all surprised” by a sparrowhawk’s ability to enter a moving car. “As their name suggests, they tend to feed on other birds that are normally smaller than themselves,” he said. He theorized that the bird was likely hunting prey, and the car’s presence at that specific moment facilitated the incident. He characterized the bird’s maneuver as “absolutely classic sparrowhawk.” “It can lift off from a slightly higher position, gain speed, fold up its wings, use its tail for steering and just weave in and out of the trees.” Mr. Sperring deemed the Dodds’ encounter “unique.” “I celebrate the two people and their reaction to this because that was absolutely brilliant and the right thing to do.” He also advised that wildlife rehabilitation centers or veterinarians should be contacted if an injured bird is encountered. For further updates, BBC Oxfordshire can be followed on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.