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Difference between revisions of "Levant Sparrowhawk" - BirdForum Opus

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;Accipiter brevipes
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;[[:Category:Accipiter|Accipiter]] brevipes
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[[Image:Levant_Sparrowhawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by <b>lior kislev in Eylat, Israel]]
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[[Image:Levant_Sparrowhawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|lior_kislev|lior kislev}} in Eylat, [[Israel]].]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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Levant Sparrowhawk
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30-37 cm. Female is larger than the male<br />
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Accipiter brevipes
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'''Male'''
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*Blue-grey upperparts
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*Dark wingtips
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*Barred reddish below<br />
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'''Female'''
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*Slate-grey upperparts
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*Darkish wingtips
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*Barred reddish brown underparts
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*Dark throat line<br />
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'''Juvenile'''
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*Dark brown upperparts
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*Darkish-streaked underparts
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*Dark throat ([[Dictionary_G-L#G|gular]]) line
  
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[[Image:Levant_Sparrowhawk_juvie_by_Momo.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Juvenile, notice the dark blotchy streaks on breast and the dark [[Dictionary_G-L#G|gular]] stripe on throat<br />Photo by {{user|Momo|Momo}} in Keramoti, [[Greece]], September 2008.]]
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====Similar Species====
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Levant Sparrowhawk usually shows four "fingers" which often produces an impression of pointed wings while [[Eurasian Sparrowhawk]] shows five-six "fingers". Levant Sparrowhawk therefore shows a flight silhouette that is surprisingly similar to [[Common Kestrel]]. Juvenile Levant differs in the more blotchy, streaked appearance of underside and a dark [[Dictionary_G-L#G|gular]] stripe, where juvenile Eurasian is barred below.
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==Distribution==
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A summer visitor to the southern [[Ukraine]] and east across southern [[Russia]] to [[Kazakstan]] and in scattered parts of South-East [[Europe]]. There are small, isolated populations in southern [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]], the former [[Yugoslavia]], probably [[Albania]] and in particular, [[Greece]], and has bred in small numbers in south-east [[Hungary]]. In addition, breeds in western and northern [[Turkey]] and the Caucasus.
  
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The Levant Sparrowhawk (Accipiter brevipes) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.
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Winters in East [[Africa]] and seen on passage across Turkey, the [[Middle East]] and [[Egypt]]. The Bosphorus is the preferred migration route with smaller numbers through the Caucasus and the passage period is mid August-early October, peaking in the second half of September. The return movement takes place in mid-late April. Passage is very concentrated and most of the population move through in a few days in dense flocks.  
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This bird is a small raptor with short broad wings and a longish tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. It is similar to the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, but its shorter tail and more pointed wings give it a more falcon-like appearance.
 
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Levant Sparrowhawk is 30-37 cm long with a 63-76 cm wingspan. The female is larger than the male, but the difference is not as marked as with Eurasian Sparrowhawk. The adult male is blue-grey above, with dark wingtips, and barred reddish below.
 
  
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The adult female is slate-grey above with darkish wingtips. She is barred reddish brown below, and may show a dark throat line. The juvenile is dark brown above and has dark-streaked underparts. It shows a dark throat line. The flight of this hawk is a characteristic "flap – flap – glide".
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Vagrants recorded in [[Poland]], [[Cyprus]], [[Italy]] and [[Tunisia]] and a rare [[Dictionary_P-S#P|passage migrant]] to [[Kuwait]].
  
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==Distribution==
 
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It breeds in forests from Greece and the Balkans east to southern Russia. It is migratory, wintering from Egypt across to southwestern Iran. It will migrate in large flocks, unlike the more widespread Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
 
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A summer visitor to the southern Ukraine and east across southern Russia
 
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to Kazakstan and in scattered parts of South-East Europe. There are small, isolated populations in southern Romania and Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, probably Albania and in particular, Greece, and has bred in small numbers in south-east Hungary. In addition, breeds in western and northern Turkey and the Caucasus.
 
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Winters in East Africa and seen on passage across Turkey, the Middle East and Egypt. The Bosphorus is the preferred migration route with smaller numbers through the Caucasus and the passage period is mid August-early October, peaking in the second half of September. The return movement takes place in mid-late April. Passage is very concentrated and most of the population move through in a few days in dense flocks.
 
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Vagrants recorded in Poland, Cyprus, Italy and Tunisia and a rare passage migrant to Kuwait.
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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This is a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>.
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Deciduous woodland, in dry, hilly or lowland areas, often along rivers. Sometimes breeds in stands of trees in open cultivated land.
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Deciduous woodland, in dry, hilly or lowland areas, often along rivers.  
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==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
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The Levant Sparrowhawk nests in trees, building a new nest, lined with green leaves, each year. The normal clutch is 3-5 eggs. It hunts small birds, insects and lizards in woodland, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch to catch its prey unaware.
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====Breeding====
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It nests in trees, lined with green leaves. The clutch consists of 3-5 eggs.  
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====Diet====
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Diet includes small birds, insects and lizards.
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====Vocalisation====
 
The call is a sharp "kee-wick".
 
The call is a sharp "kee-wick".
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug11}}#Wikipedia
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
 
{{GSearch|Accipiter+brevipes}}
 
{{GSearch|Accipiter+brevipes}}
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Search the Gallery using the common name:
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{{GSearch|"Levant Sparrowhawk"}}
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{{GS-checked}}
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<br />
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<br />
  
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Accipiter]]
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[[Category:Birds]]
 

Latest revision as of 00:05, 8 September 2023

Accipiter brevipes
Photo by lior kislev in Eylat, Israel.

Identification

30-37 cm. Female is larger than the male
Male

  • Blue-grey upperparts
  • Dark wingtips
  • Barred reddish below

Female

  • Slate-grey upperparts
  • Darkish wingtips
  • Barred reddish brown underparts
  • Dark throat line

Juvenile

  • Dark brown upperparts
  • Darkish-streaked underparts
  • Dark throat (gular) line
Juvenile, notice the dark blotchy streaks on breast and the dark gular stripe on throat
Photo by Momo in Keramoti, Greece, September 2008.

Similar Species

Levant Sparrowhawk usually shows four "fingers" which often produces an impression of pointed wings while Eurasian Sparrowhawk shows five-six "fingers". Levant Sparrowhawk therefore shows a flight silhouette that is surprisingly similar to Common Kestrel. Juvenile Levant differs in the more blotchy, streaked appearance of underside and a dark gular stripe, where juvenile Eurasian is barred below.

Distribution

A summer visitor to the southern Ukraine and east across southern Russia to Kazakstan and in scattered parts of South-East Europe. There are small, isolated populations in southern Romania and Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia, probably Albania and in particular, Greece, and has bred in small numbers in south-east Hungary. In addition, breeds in western and northern Turkey and the Caucasus.

Winters in East Africa and seen on passage across Turkey, the Middle East and Egypt. The Bosphorus is the preferred migration route with smaller numbers through the Caucasus and the passage period is mid August-early October, peaking in the second half of September. The return movement takes place in mid-late April. Passage is very concentrated and most of the population move through in a few days in dense flocks.

Vagrants recorded in Poland, Cyprus, Italy and Tunisia and a rare passage migrant to Kuwait.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species1.

Habitat

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

Behaviour

Breeding

It nests in trees, lined with green leaves. The clutch consists of 3-5 eggs.

Diet

Diet includes small birds, insects and lizards.

Vocalisation

The call is a sharp "kee-wick".

References

  1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
  2. Wikipedia

Recommended Citation

External Links

Search the Gallery using the scientific name:

Search the Gallery using the common name:

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.

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