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The shikra (Accipiter badius) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found widely distributed in Asia and Africa where it is also called the little banded goshawk. The African forms may represent a separate species but have usually been considered as subspecies of the shikra. The shikra is very similar in appearance to other sparrowhawk species including the Chinese goshawk and Eurasian sparrowhawk. They have a sharp two note call and have the typical flap and glide flight. Their calls are imitated by drongos and the common hawk-cuckoo resembles it in plumage.
Scientific Name : Accipiter Badius
Family : Accipitridae
Order : Accipitriformes
Class : Aves
Type : Hawks, Kites And Eagles
Conservation Status : Least concern (LC)
Size : 26 – 30 cm
Compare Size : House crow -
Wingspan : 54.6 - 61 cm
Weight : 130 g
Migratory : Resident
Sex Alike : No
Nesting Season : 3 to 4 eggs
Other Names :
Hindi : शिकरा
Marathi : शिकà¥à¤°à¤¾
Habitat:
found in a range of habitats including forests, farmland and urban areas
Breeding:
March to June
Feeding:
feed on rodents, squirrels, small birds, small reptiles (mainly lizards but sometimes small snakes and insects
| Male | |
|---|---|
| Wing | short rounded; tiped blackish |
| Tail | narrow and somewhat long; from above the tail bands are faintly marked on the lateral tail feathers; The central tail feathers are unbanded and only have a dark terminal band |
| Underparts | whitish with fine rufous bars but less than female; lower belly is less barred |
| Upperparts | grey |
| Thigh | whitish |
| Iris | red in males; less red (yellowish-orange) |
| Mesial stripe | narrow; dark |
| Female | |
|---|---|
| Wing | short rounded; tiped blackish |
| Tail | narrow and somewhat long; from above the tail bands are faintly marked on the lateral tail feathers; The central tail feathers are unbanded and only have a dark terminal band |
| Underparts | whitish with fine rufous bars but heavier than males; lower belly is less barred |
| Upperparts | brownish |
| Iris | yellow to yellowish-orange |
| Mesial stripe | narrow; dark |
| Thigh | whitish |
| Note : females are slightly larger |
|
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| 05 Nov 2018 | Shiravali Gaon, Raigad, Maharashtra |
| 31 Jan 2019 | Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Rajasthan |
