Black sparrowhawk

Black sparrowhawk
Adult females of the light and dark morphs respectively
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Astur
Species:
A. melanoleucus
Binomial name
Astur melanoleucus
(Smith, A, 1830)
Subspecies
  • A. m. temminckii - Hartlaub, 1855
  • A. m. melanoleucus - (Smith, A, 1830)
global range
  Year-Round Range
  Summer Range
  Winter Range

The black sparrowhawk (Astur melanoleucus), sometimes known as the black goshawk or great sparrowhawk, is a bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. It occurs mainly in forest and non-desert areas south of the Sahara, particularly where there are large trees suitable for nesting; favored habitat includes suburban and human-altered landscapes.[2] It preys predominantly on birds of moderate size, such as pigeons and doves, in suburban areas.[3]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Accipiter melanoleucus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22695673A93522165. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695673A93522165.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arkive was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Curtis O.E., Hockey P.A.R., Koeslag A. 2007. Competition with Egyptian geese Alopochen aegyptiaca overrides environmental factors in determining productivity of Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus. Ibis 149: 502-508.