The collared sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus) is a small, slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found in Australia, New Guinea and nearby smaller islands. As its name implies the collared sparrowhawk is a specialist in hunting small birds. It is characterised by its slight brow ridges and slender feet. The last segment of their middle toe projects beyond the claws of the other toes.[3]
The collared sparrowhawk is 29–38 cm (tail about half ), with a wingspan 55–78 cm, the average male weighs 126 g, female 218 g.[4] They are small, fierce, finely built with rounded wings, long square tail, yellow eyes and long legs. Adults have slate-grey upper parts, sometimes with a brown wash, and a chestnut half collar. The underparts are finely barred rufous and white. The under wing and tail are finely barred. The cere is cream to olive-yellow, the eyes yellow and the legs and feet yellow.[4] The sexes are similar in appearance but males are smaller than females. Juveniles have brown upper parts, with pale streaks on the head and nape, and fine rufous edges to the feathers of the back and wings.[4] The under parts are white with heavy brown streaks on the breast and coarse brown barring on the belly. The underwings and tail are finely barred. The cere is cream to greenish yellow, the eyes brown to pale yellow and legs and feet pale yellow.[4]
Distribution and habitatedit
The collared sparrowhawk is widespread through mainland Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea and is found in all habitats except the driest deserts. It can occasionally be seen in urban areas and even cities. Although widespread, they are generally uncommon. Collared sparrowhawks are generally resident but may be partly migratory, however their movements are poorly known.[4]
Feedingedit
The collared sparrowhawk mainly eats small birds, the crested pigeon and spotted bowerbird are the largest birds that sparrowhawks have been recorded taking.[5] They also catch insects, lizards and small mammals (including small bats[6]). Sparrowhawks rely on stealth and surprise to catch their prey, hunting in flight or bursting from a concealed perch among foliage.[4] Most prey weighs less than 100 g and sometimes over 200 g. It forages by short-stay perch hunting from a concealed position in foliage, punctuated by short tree-to-tree, often undulating flights.[4] It also forages by low fast flight, sometimes hedge hopping. Prey is seized in flight by a direct flying attack or a stealthy glide.
Breedingedit
The laying season is July to December. Pairs nest solitarily. The nest is a platform of sticks 27–32 cm across, 12–15 cm deep, lined with green leaves around 4–39 m above ground in the fork of a living tree.[4] The clutch size is usually three or four eggs, ranging from two to five. Incubation takes 35 days, and the nesting period is about 28–33 days.[4] The period of dependence after fledging lasts up to 6 weeks, after which young disperse. Sexual maturity is reached at one year, with birds sometimes breeding in juvenile plumage.[4]
Kobble Creek, SE Queensland, Australia
Threats and conservationedit
The collared sparrowhawk is not globally or nationally threatened. It is widespread and generally uncommon, but may be common in forests in the tropics and subtropics; it is also secretive and most likely under-recorded.[4] It has undergone declines in extensively cleared areas. It is thought that their loss of numbers is due to the use of DDT which has reduced the thickness of collared sparrowhawks' eggs by 2%,[7] and the increase of the pied currawong (Strepera graculina) a predator and competitor capable of robbing and injuring adults and killing nestlings.[4]
Referencesedit
^BirdLife International (2016). "Accipiter cirrocephalus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22695599A93518623. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695599A93518623.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
^Luke D.Einoder and Alastair M.M. Richardson. (2007). Aspects of the hindlimb morphology of some Australian birds of prey: a comparative and quantitative study.Hobart:The Auk 124(3):773-788.
^ abcdefghijklDebus, Stephen (1998). The Birds of Prey of Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN0195506243.
^Debus S.J.S., Ley A.J., Tremont S.M., Tremont R.M., Collins J.L. (1993) Breeding behaviour and diet of the collared sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus in northern New South Wales. Australian Bird Watcher 15: 68–91.
^Penny Olsen, Phil Fuller & T. G. Marples (March 1993). "Pesticide-related Eggshell Thinning in Australian Raptors". Emu: Austral Ornithology 93(1) 1–11. doi:10.1071/MU9930001.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Accipiter cirrocephalus.
Wikispecies has information related to Accipiter cirrocephalus.
BirdLife Species Factsheet
February 15, 2024
collared, sparrowhawk, collared, sparrowhawk, accipiter, cirrocephalus, small, slim, bird, prey, family, accipitridae, found, australia, guinea, nearby, smaller, islands, name, implies, collared, sparrowhawk, specialist, hunting, small, birds, characterised, s. The collared sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus is a small slim bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found in Australia New Guinea and nearby smaller islands As its name implies the collared sparrowhawk is a specialist in hunting small birds It is characterised by its slight brow ridges and slender feet The last segment of their middle toe projects beyond the claws of the other toes 3 Collared sparrowhawkConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AccipitriformesFamily AccipitridaeGenus AccipiterSpecies A cirrocephalusBinomial nameAccipiter cirrocephalus Vieillot 1817 Subspecies 2 A c papuanus Rothschild amp Hartert 1913 A c cirrocephalus Vieillot 1817 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Feeding 4 Breeding 5 Threats and conservation 6 References 7 External linksDescription editThe collared sparrowhawk is 29 38 cm tail about half with a wingspan 55 78 cm the average male weighs 126 g female 218 g 4 They are small fierce finely built with rounded wings long square tail yellow eyes and long legs Adults have slate grey upper parts sometimes with a brown wash and a chestnut half collar The underparts are finely barred rufous and white The under wing and tail are finely barred The cere is cream to olive yellow the eyes yellow and the legs and feet yellow 4 The sexes are similar in appearance but males are smaller than females Juveniles have brown upper parts with pale streaks on the head and nape and fine rufous edges to the feathers of the back and wings 4 The under parts are white with heavy brown streaks on the breast and coarse brown barring on the belly The underwings and tail are finely barred The cere is cream to greenish yellow the eyes brown to pale yellow and legs and feet pale yellow 4 Distribution and habitat editThe collared sparrowhawk is widespread through mainland Australia Tasmania and New Guinea and is found in all habitats except the driest deserts It can occasionally be seen in urban areas and even cities Although widespread they are generally uncommon Collared sparrowhawks are generally resident but may be partly migratory however their movements are poorly known 4 Feeding editThe collared sparrowhawk mainly eats small birds the crested pigeon and spotted bowerbird are the largest birds that sparrowhawks have been recorded taking 5 They also catch insects lizards and small mammals including small bats 6 Sparrowhawks rely on stealth and surprise to catch their prey hunting in flight or bursting from a concealed perch among foliage 4 Most prey weighs less than 100 g and sometimes over 200 g It forages by short stay perch hunting from a concealed position in foliage punctuated by short tree to tree often undulating flights 4 It also forages by low fast flight sometimes hedge hopping Prey is seized in flight by a direct flying attack or a stealthy glide Breeding editThe laying season is July to December Pairs nest solitarily The nest is a platform of sticks 27 32 cm across 12 15 cm deep lined with green leaves around 4 39 m above ground in the fork of a living tree 4 The clutch size is usually three or four eggs ranging from two to five Incubation takes 35 days and the nesting period is about 28 33 days 4 The period of dependence after fledging lasts up to 6 weeks after which young disperse Sexual maturity is reached at one year with birds sometimes breeding in juvenile plumage 4 source source source source Kobble Creek SE Queensland AustraliaThreats and conservation editThe collared sparrowhawk is not globally or nationally threatened It is widespread and generally uncommon but may be common in forests in the tropics and subtropics it is also secretive and most likely under recorded 4 It has undergone declines in extensively cleared areas It is thought that their loss of numbers is due to the use of DDT which has reduced the thickness of collared sparrowhawks eggs by 2 7 and the increase of the pied currawong Strepera graculina a predator and competitor capable of robbing and injuring adults and killing nestlings 4 References edit BirdLife International 2016 Accipiter cirrocephalus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22695599A93518623 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22695599A93518623 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Gill F D Donsker amp P Rasmussen Eds 2020 IOC World Bird List v10 2 doi 10 14344 IOC ML 10 2 Luke D Einoder and Alastair M M Richardson 2007 Aspects of the hindlimb morphology of some Australian birds of prey a comparative and quantitative study Hobart The Auk 124 3 773 788 a b c d e f g h i j k l Debus Stephen 1998 The Birds of Prey of Australia Melbourne Oxford University Press ISBN 0195506243 Australia B 2012 Collared Sparrowhawk Retrieved from BirdLife Australia http www birdlife org au bird profile collared sparrowhawk Debus S J S Ley A J Tremont S M Tremont R M Collins J L 1993 Breeding behaviour and diet of the collared sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus in northern New South Wales Australian Bird Watcher 15 68 91 Penny Olsen Phil Fuller amp T G Marples March 1993 Pesticide related Eggshell Thinning in Australian Raptors Emu Austral Ornithology 93 1 1 11 doi 10 1071 MU9930001 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Accipiter cirrocephalus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Accipiter cirrocephalus BirdLife Species Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Collared sparrowhawk amp oldid 1188551063, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
