Accipiter ID help Hainan, China (1 Viewer)

H

Hainan on the fly

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2020

• #1

I'm not sure that the photo quality and angles are good enough to get to species level on this one but I was hoping to narrow it down a little. This was a really small bird so I'm thinking that it could be either Chinese Sparrowhawk or Japanese Sparrowhawk. Seemed small for Shikra but think this could also be possible?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Brian

 

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J

johnallcock

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2020

• #2

It looks too pale to be Japanese I think.

I think it should be either Shikra or Chinese. Structurally I would have said it's a better fit for Shikra - quite short primary projection, small head, relatively short, thick legs. It also looks like it's barred below (not easy to tell from these photos), which would also favour Shikra.

 

G

Grahame Walbridge

Well-known member

• Sep 22, 2020

• #3

johnallcock said:

It looks too pale to be Japanese I think.

I think it should be either Shikra or Chinese. Structurally I would have said it's a better fit for Shikra - quite short primary projection, small head, relatively short, thick legs. It also looks like it's barred below (not easy to tell from these photos), which would also favour Shikra.

Click to expand...

Concur with John's observations and would add, Chinese has darker upperparts, more solidly rufous underparts + orange-yellow cere so, a clear-cut Shikra IMO.

Grahame

 

H

Hainan on the fly

Well-known member

• Sep 27, 2020

• #4

Thanks John and Grahame! Your explanations will be of great help the next time I see one in the field.

Thanks for taking the time,

Brian