An Urban Elusive - Japanese Sparrowhawk, Tokyo

Japan's smallest hawk has become a regular sight around Tokyo. But city life isn't any easier than the sparrowhawk's native mountain habitat. Raising young is difficult in any environment. New threats include feral cats and the capital's omnipresent crows. Man-made challenges also pose risks for this tiny raptor no bigger than a plastic bottle. We discover a nest full of chicks and follow their amazing fledging journey as they learn a necessary sparrowhawk hunting tactic: catching prey mid-air!