Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

The Ovambo or Ovampo sparrowhawk, also known as Hilgert's sparrowhawk, (Accipiter ovampensis) is a species of sub-Saharan African bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It takes its name from the Ovamboland in northern Namibia. The Ovambo sparrowhawk is a small sparrowhawk with the typical broad winged, long-tailed shape of a member of the genus Accipiter. The adults have plain grey upperparts with white bars on the rump and white underparts which are finely barred with grey but with a plain white vent. The tail has three dark bars and a broad, dark subterminal band. The bill is black, contrasting with the red cere, the eyes are dark red and the legs are orange. There is a melanistic form which is all black except for the white barred flight feathers on the underwing. The juvenile is browner and may be white over the underparts and head or have a brown head and rufous underparts. Females are about 14% bigger than males.
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Ovambo Sparrowhawks on Birda

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦓
Luke Kroon
Sunday 29 Jan 2023 - 3:45am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦉
Matt V
Sunday 13 Mar 2022 - 5:31am
South Africa
A map showing the sighting location
🦢
Lucas Corneliussen
Tuesday 02 Jul 2019 - 2:00pm
Tanzania
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