Apanese Sparrowhawk

Accipiter gularis

Beak

—

Feet

—

Crest

No crest

Winter visitor. Andaman Is. Very small. Long primary projection (extending nearly halfway down ta il). in flight. wings are a shade narrower and more pointed than on Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Basra. Underside of flight feathers and underwing-coverts are distinctly barred. in all plumages. pale bars on tail generally broader than dark bars (reverse on Basra). Underpart patterning of adults rather different from Besra; juveniles more similar. Male has dark bluish-grey upperparts, pale rufous to pale grey underparts (some with fine grey barring), and dark crimson iris. Has very indistinct gular stripe (often not visible in field). Female has browner upperparts, whitish underparts with distinct greyish-brown barring, indistinct gular stripe, and yellow iris. Juvenile has dark greyish-brown upperparts with narrow rufous fringes, white supercilium, and brown to rufous streaking on breast, heart-shaped spots on lower breast and belly and barring on flanks and thighs. Habits are like Basra's. Secondary forest; also cultivation and human habitation.