Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Fairly common resident medium sized Accipiter. Adult identified by plain grey barring on underparts that extends to throat, grey head and upper body, yellow, orange or red cere and yellow or orange-red legs, dark red-brown eye with no eye ring. Cf [Shikra (Little Banded Goshawk)] , [Gabar Goshawk]. In flight, from above, shows pale central tail-feather shafts; small white rump patch variable, often absent. Flight from below, pale wing coverts and plain grey barring to primaries with barred tail. Immature either pale (a) or rufous (b), the rufous morph more common in Zimbabwe. Both Imm. morphs have pale eye stripe and dark eye & ear patch. Lightly marked on underparts; cere and legs are dull yellow or orange. A very rare melanistic morph occurs, similar to [Gabar Goshawk] but retain orange-red leg colour (b). Call is a slowly repeated ‘kiep, kiep, kiep…’ rising in tone. Sparsely distributed in tall woodland or, on the highveld, in isolated stands of Eucalyptus or poplar (Populus), where it is the most common small Accipiter. Feeds on small birds caught on the wing with fast stoops or chase from high perch resembling a falcon in flight. 100 g -300 g.