Bird Guide

Eurasian Sparrowhawk vs Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

Medium221 gForest

The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey with short, broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. Females can be up to 25% larger than males and weigh up to twice as much. Marked size difference in this direction is unusual in higher vertebrates but typical in birds of prey, and most marked in birds of prey which hunt other birds. The adult male is 29–34 cm (11–13 in) long, with a wingspan of 59–64 cm (23–25 in) and a mass of 110–196 g (3.9–6.9 oz).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Recorded by Sonothèque ADVL · Call · Vains, Manche, Normandie, France · CC0
Photo: caroline legg · CC BY 4.0
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris)

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Accipiter rufiventris

Medium198 gForest

A small raptor, with a height of about 30 cm and wingspan of 72 cm, the rufous-breasted sparrowhawk is named for its distinctive rufous-coloured underparts, which can be seen both perching and in flight. It is dark grey slate-brown above, including the head, with a black bill and eyes that are yellow at all ages. In flight, the bold bars on both its wings and tail are clearly visible. Juvenile plumage ranges from the rufous-color of adults to more white, but all have feathers with dark shaft streaks on their underside. Voice: Its call is a series of high, fast "kew" notes, with the male being higher-pitched than the female. A more drawn out "kieee-u" is made by the female to request food from the nearby male, and is adopted by the young as a begging call whenever adults are near.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Christiaan Viljoen · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk.