Collared Sparrowhawk - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Megan Perkins
Nallan Station, Western Australia, Australia

Accipiter cirrocephalus

Identification

Length 30-40cm (12-16in.) Wingspan 55-80cm (21.5-31.5in). Females larger
Grey upper body with chestnut half collar; gray chin, but rest of underbody from chest to tail is finely barred in rufous and white. Long, thin yellow legs.

Distribution

Widespread and common throughout Australia and New Guinea in appropriate habitat.

Taxonomy

The scientific name is also spelled cirrhocephalus. ^[2],[3]

Subspecies

Juvenile
Photo by Weiss1
Yarraville Gardens, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, March 2009

There are 3 subspecies^[1]:

• A. c. papuanus:

• New Guinea, western Papuan islands and Aru Islands

• A. c. rosselianus:

• Rossell (Louisiade Archipelago)

• A. c. cirrocephalus:

• Australia and Tasmania

Habitat

Forests and fields.

Behaviour

Diet

Expert and fast flyer that typically takes its prey (mostly small birds) in flight.

Breeding

Its flat nest is built from twigs and sticks, lined with fresh leaves. The female incubates, and broods the young.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2010. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2010. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/Clements%206.5.xls/view
2. Avibase
3. Birds in Backyards

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Collared Sparrowhawk. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Collared_Sparrowhawk

External Links

Search for photos of Collared Sparrowhawk in the gallery

• View more images of Collared Sparrowhawk in the ABID