Collared Sparrowhawk
Encyclopedia
The Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) is a small, slim bird of prey
in the family Accipitridae
found in Australia
, and New Guinea
and nearby smaller islands.
but smaller, and shares its fast, flexible flight. The body length is 30–40 cm (11.8–15.7 in) and the wingspan is 55–80 cm (21.7–31.5 in). Females, which weigh 240 g (8.5 oz) as adults, are noticeably larger than males, which weigh 125 g (4.4 oz).
and New Guinea
except for sandy deserts. It is found in forests and woodlands.
period is about 35 days, with chicks fledging about 24–33 days after hatching.
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
in the family Accipitridae
Accipitridae
The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...
found in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and nearby smaller islands.
Description
The upperparts are grey with a chestnut collar; the underparts are mainly rufous, finely barred with white. It is similar in colouring to the Brown GoshawkBrown Goshawk
The Brown Goshawk is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found in Australia and surrounding islands.- Description:...
but smaller, and shares its fast, flexible flight. The body length is 30–40 cm (11.8–15.7 in) and the wingspan is 55–80 cm (21.7–31.5 in). Females, which weigh 240 g (8.5 oz) as adults, are noticeably larger than males, which weigh 125 g (4.4 oz).
Distribution and habitat
The Collared Sparrowhawk is widespread through AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
except for sandy deserts. It is found in forests and woodlands.
Feeding
It feeds mainly on small birds caught in flight such as House Sparrows and Common Starlings, occasionally insects.Breeding
This species nests in trees on a platform of sticks and twigs. The clutch size is usually 3 or 4. The incubationAvian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
period is about 35 days, with chicks fledging about 24–33 days after hatching.