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Levant Sparrowhawk - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 01:18, 14 August 2009 by Njlarsen (talk | contribs) (edit misc)
Accipiter brevipes
Photo by lior kislev in Eylat, Israel.

Identification

30-37 cm. Female is larger than the male. Blue-grey above, with dark wingtips, and barred reddish below. The adult female is slate-grey above with darkish wingtips, barred reddish brown below, dark throat line. The juvenile is dark brown above and has dark-streaked underparts. It shows a dark throat line.

Similar Species

Levant Sparrowhawk usually shows four "fingers" while Eurasian Sparrowhawk shows five-six. Levant Sparrowhawk shows a flight silhouet that is surprisingly similar to Common Kestrel.

Distribution

Mainly eastern Europe and western Asia. Migrates through Middle East and winters in eastern Africa. In Europe: Greece, the Balkans and southern Russia.

Taxonomy

Monotypic.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, in dry, hilly or lowland areas, often along rivers.

Behaviour

It nests in trees, building a new nest, lined with green leaves, each year. 3-5 eggs are laid.

Diet includes small birds, insects and lizards in woodland, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch to catch its prey unaware.

The call is a sharp "kee-wick".

External Links

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