Little Banded Goshawk or Shikra

Description:

They are small birds of prey found widely in Asia and Africa. These birds are usually found hunting during the morning hours. On hearing the alarm calls of the squirrels or the jungle babblers, one can spot them perched visibly on tree branches nearby. This female Shikra or LB Goshawk was spotted in our yard this morning.

Habitat:

Forests, farm lands or urban areas. They feed on rodents, squirrels, small birds, small reptiles (mainly lizards but sometimes small snakes) and insects.

Notes:

Nowadays I find this bird frequently visiting our backyard as we were trapping mice that were destroying the plants and other utility stuff in the yard, to be released into the thickets on the outskirts.