Little Sparrowhawk

The Little Sparrowhawk, a diminutive raptor of the Afrotropical realm, is the smallest member of the genus Accipiter. It is characterized by two distinctive white spots on the underside of its central tail feathers and a narrow white patch on the lower rump. Exhibiting sexual dimorphism, the male boasts dark grey upperparts, which may appear almost black, extending onto the cheeks to create a striking contrast with the white throat. The underparts are white, adorned with fine rufous bars. Females display a browner hue on the upperparts, and the bars on the underparts are also browner and less fine than those of the male. Juveniles present a browner plumage with pale tips on the upperpart feathers and spots of brown below rather than bars. The rump feathers are tipped with white, and the eyes are a youthful brown, while adults have deep yellow eyes. The bill is black, the long legs and toes are yellow, and the cere is yellow. This species measures 23–27 cm in length, with a wingspan of 39–50 cm, and the male weighs 74–85 g, while the female is slightly heavier at 68–105 g.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Little Sparrowhawk, look for the white spots on the tail and the white patch on the rump. The male's dark grey to black upperparts and finely barred underparts are key features, as are the female's browner tones. The juveniles can be recognized by their overall browner plumage and spotted rather than barred underparts.

Habitat

This woodland bird is found in patches of woodland and scrub, typically along river valleys. In drier regions, it may inhabit open areas such as fynbos and grassland, and it is also known to frequent suburban gardens.

Distribution

The Little Sparrowhawk graces the skies of eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Ethiopia southward to the southern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola, and as far south as the eastern Western Cape in South Africa.

Behaviour

The Little Sparrowhawk is monogamous and territorial, often seen as a solitary nester. The male's courtship display involves perching and swaying his head from side to side. The female is chiefly responsible for nest construction, favoring alien tree species for placement. The male is diligent in providing food to the incubating female and in defending the nest, particularly against other birds of prey.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary across their range, with southern Africa seeing egg-laying from September to December, peaking in October. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 31–32 days, with the female taking on the majority of this duty. The chicks fledge at approximately 25–27 days old and may remain in their parents' territory for up to a year.

Diet and Feeding

The Little Sparrowhawk is a skilled hunter of birds, capturing its prey in flight after a short dash from cover. Its diet includes small birds up to the size of a thrush or dove, as well as bats, frogs, lizards, rodents, and larger insects like termites.

Predation

Adult Little Sparrowhawks may fall prey to the Gabar Goshawk, while chicks are sometimes taken by Lizard Buzzards.

Conservation status

The Little Sparrowhawk is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.