Shikra

Description:

The Shikra are back and appear to be nesting in the neem tree in my garden again. They had a nest 2 years ago, but I didn't see them last year. 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 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.