From Opus

Photo by Joe Pan
Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia

Accipiter virgatus

[edit] Identification

29-36cm

• Ashy blue-grey upperparts
• White below crossed barred with rusty brown
• Dark vertical throat stripe
• Short broad wings
• Long tail
  

Female is larger and has browner upperparts
Juvenile: dark brown upperparts

• White underparts, barred brown
• Barred tail

[edit] Distribution

South Asia from Pakistan and India to south China and Indonesia.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

There are 11 subspecies:

• A. v. affinis:

• Northern India and Nepal to central China and Indochina

• A. v. fuscipectus:

• Mountains of Taiwan

• A. v. besra:

• Southern India and Sri Lanka

• A. v. abdulali:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• A. v. nisoides:

• Myanmar, Thailand and northern Malay Peninsula

• A. v. confusus:

• Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro, Negros and Catanduanes)

• A. v. quagga:

• Philippines (Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Siquijor and Mindanao)

• A. v. rufotibialis:

• Northern Borneo

• A. v. vanbemmeli:

• Sumatra

• A. v. virgatus:

• Java and Bali

• A. v. quinquefasciatus:

• Flores (Lesser Sundas)

[edit] Habitat

Dense montane forests; in winter open woodland (preferably with large trees) including groves, savanna and cultivated areas.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It nests in trees, building a new nest each year; 2-5 eggs are laid.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes small birds and dragonflies, lizards and mammals.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. AvianWeb
3. BF Member observations

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages