Little Sparrowhawk
A species of Bird Hawks Scientific name : Accipiter minullus Genus : Bird Hawks
Little Sparrowhawk, A species of Bird Hawks
Botanical name: Accipiter minullus
Genus: Bird Hawks
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Charles J. Sharp , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The little sparrowhawk is, as its name suggests a very small bird of prey which is also distinguished by two white spots on the underside of its central tail feathers and by a narrow white patch on the lower rump. It is sexually dimorphic and the male has dark grey upperparts, which can appear almost black, this colour extending on to the cheeks to contrast with the white throat. The underparts are white barred with fine rufous bars. The females are overall browner on the upperparts and the underpart bars are also browner and less fine than the male. The juveniles are browner overall with pale tips to the upperpart feathers and is spotted with grown below rather than barred and the rump feathers have only the tips white, and shows dark. In adults the bill is black, the long legs and long toes are yellow, the cere is yellow and the eyes are deep yellow; in juveniles have a yellowish-green cere and brown eyes. The length is 23–27 cm (9.1–10.6 in); the wingspan is 39–50 cm (15–20 in), the male weighs 74–85 g (2.6–3.0 oz) and the female 68–105 g (2.4–3.7 oz). 
Size
27 cm
Feeding Habits
Little Sparrowhawk preys mainly on small birds up to thrush or dove size, hunting from cover and capturing them mid-flight. It also consumes bats, ground-based animals like frogs, lizards, rodents, and insects such as larger termites, showing adaptability in feeding techniques and prey selection.
Habitat
Little Sparrowhawk predominantly inhabits various woodland ecosystems and surrounding environments across eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa. Its residence extends from woodlands and scrubland along river valleys to open areas, including fynbos, grasslands, and even suburban gardens. Little Sparrowhawk is versatile in its habitat preference, also adapting to savannas, forest edges, and thornbrush regions. Plantations, such as those with Eucalyptus trees, are within its purview. This raptor species can be found ranging from sea level up to 1800 meters in altitude.
Dite type
Carnivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
The little sparrowhawk occurs in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia south to the southern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola, south as far as the eastern Western Cape in South Africa. The little sparrowhawk is a woodland bird which can be found in patches of woodland and scrub, typically along river valleys. In drier areas it can be found in open areas such as fynbos and grassland, also in suburban gardens.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
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