- Accipiter brevipes
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.
Distribution
Mainly eastern Europe, western Asia, Middle East and north-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".
