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The shikra

Accipiter badius

Description:

The shikra is a small raptor (26–30 cm long) and like most other Accipiter hawks, this species has short rounded wings and a narrow and somewhat long tail. Adults are whitish on the underside with fine rufous bars while the upperparts are grey. The lower belly is less barred and the thighs are whitish. Males have a red iris while the females have a less red (yellowish orange) iris and brownish upperparts apart from heavier barring on the underparts. The females are slightly larger. The mesial stripe on the throat is dark but narrow. In flight the male seen from below shows a light wing lining (underwing coverts) and has blackish wing tips. When seen from above the tail bands are faintly marked on the lateral tail feathers and not as strongly marked as in the Eurasian sparrowhawk. The central tail feathers are unbanded and only have a dark terminal band.[2] Juveniles have dark streaks and spots on the upper breast and the wing is narrowly barred while the tail has dark but narrow bands. A post juvenile transitional plumage is found with very strong barring on the contour feathers of the underside.

Habitat:

The shikra is found in a range of habitats including forests, farmland and urban areas. They are usually seen singly or in pairs.

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4 Comments

Nidhin Basheer
Nidhin Basheer 7 years ago

Thanks Felix Fleck :)

Nidhin Basheer
Nidhin Basheer 7 years ago

Thanks InêsVeloso:)

Felix Fleck
Felix Fleck 7 years ago

Those red eyes are crazy. Awesome spotting!

InêsVeloso
InêsVeloso 7 years ago

Amazing spotting and pictures! :)

Nidhin Basheer
Spotted by
Nidhin Basheer

Tamil Nadu, India

Spotted on Sep 30, 2016
Submitted on Sep 30, 2016

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Reference

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