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Collared Sparrowhawk - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Megan Perkins
Nallan Station, Western Australia, Australia, November 2007
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. Very long middle toe.

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

Two subspecies are recognized[1].

  • A. c. papuanus:
  • A. c. cirrocephalus:

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, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2) DRAFT. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Avibase
  4. Birds in Backyards

Recommended Citation

External Links

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Search the Gallery using the common name:

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