A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Accipiter badius
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. Their calls are imitated by drongos and the Common Hawk-Cuckoo resembles it in plumage. The breeding season in India is in summer from March to June. The nest is a platform similar to that of crows lined with grass. Both sexes help build the nest, twigs being carried in their feet. Like crows, they may also make use of metal wires. The usual clutch is 3 to 4 eggs (when eggs are removed they lay replacements and one observer noted that they could lay as many as 7 in a season which are pale bluish grey stippled on the broad end in black. The incubation period is 18 to 21 days. SOURCE: Wikipedia
I just heard a terrible screeching noise, and went outside to look. Found the big grey bird that has been building a nest in my neem tree, has a mate, and I caught them mating. It's the first time I have seen her, so I guess the nest is complete and they have moved in! She is looking a little ruffled as the photo was taken just after mating!
thanks LivanEscudero, that looks like the one!
And I notice my little tree squirrels are not so prevalent. I had an epidemic of them. They were eating all my fruit and had the run of the compound. They were really out of hand. Now there's a predator in the garden, they will have to be more careful.
oops, I forgot you are in India, I'll remove my ID and give you a much better guess than sharp-shinned or cooper's hawk.
Beautiful photos PamSai. I think the bird's called "Bairee" in tamil, if I remember right.... I can still hear their shrill calls. I never got to see them close in the wild - you're lucky ! thanks for the photos.
Definitely a bird of prey. Haven't got my books with me, so I can't give you a better idea, but I would look at the small to medium birds, like a kestrel or peregrine falcon. Hope that helps. :) Great shots!
Spotted on Feb 19, 2012
Submitted on Feb 19, 2012
