Ovambo Sparrowhawk vs Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

Medium195 gShrubland

The Ovambo sparrowhawk is a small sparrowhawk with the typical broad winged, long-tailed shape of a member of the genus Accipiter. The adults have plain grey upperparts with white bars on the rump and white underparts which are finely barred with grey but with a plain white vent. The tail has three dark bars and a broad, dark subterminal band. The bill is black, contrasting with the red cere, the eyes are dark red and the legs are orange. There is a melanistic form which is all black except for the white barred flight feathers on the underwing.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0

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

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