Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
Accipiter rufiventris
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) is a rare kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 12 countries, weighing about 198 g. The rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, also known as the rufous-chested sparrowhawk and as the red-breasted sparrowhawk, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
About the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
The rufous-breasted sparrowhawk, also known as the rufous-chested sparrowhawk and as the red-breasted sparrowhawk, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk?
- The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is a medium sized bird weighing about 198 g.
- Where can you see a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk?
- The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk occurs in 12 countries, including South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Lesotho.
- What birds look similar to a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk?
- The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is most easily confused with the Ovambo Sparrowhawk, the Madagascar Sparrowhawk and the Grey-bellied Hawk.
- Is the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk endangered?
- The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk for real
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