Bird Guide

Ovambo Sparrowhawk vs Sharp-shinned Hawk

Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

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
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Medium131 gForest

This is a small Accipiter hawk, with males 23 to 30 cm (9.1 to 11.8 in) long, with a wingspan of 42 to 58 cm (17 to 23 in) and weight from 82–115 g (2.9–4.1 oz). As common in Accipiter hawks, females are distinctly larger in size, averaging some 30% longer, and with a weight advantage of more than 50% being common. The female measures 29 to 37 cm (11 to 15 in) in length, has a wingspan of 58 to 68 cm (23 to 27 in) and weighs 150 to 219 g (5.3 to 7.7 oz). The wings measure 14.1–22.9 cm (5.6–9.0 in) each, the tail is 12–19 cm (4.7–7.5 in) long and the tarsus is 4.5–5.9 cm (1.8–2.3 in).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: (c) Troy B, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Troy B · cc-by

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Ovambo Sparrowhawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk.