Levant sparrowhawk

The Levant sparrowhawk (''Tachyspiza brevipes'') is a small bird of prey. It measures in length with a wingspan of . The female is larger than the male, but the difference is not as marked as with Eurasian sparrowhawk. The adult male is blue-grey above, with dark wingtips, and barred reddish below.

It breeds in forests from Greece and the Balkans east to southern Russia. It is migratory, wintering from Egypt across to southwestern Iran. It will migrate in large flocks, unlike the more widespread Eurasian sparrowhawk.

Taxonomy

The Levant sparrowhawk was formally described in 1850 by the Russian naturalist Nikolai Severtzov under the binomial name ''Astur brevipes''. The species was formerly placed in the large and diverse genus '' Accipiter''. In 2024 a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study of the Accipitridae confirmed earlier work that had shown that the genus was polyphyletic. To resolve the non-monophyly, ''Accipiter'' was divided into six genera. The genus '' Tachyspiza'' was resurrected to accommodate the Levant sparrowhawk together with 26 other species that had previously been placed in ''Accipiter''. The resurrected genus had been introduced in 1844 by the German naturalist Johann Jakob Kaup. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ταχυς (''takhus'') meaning "fast" with σπιζιας (''spizias'') meaning "hawk". The specific epithet combines Latin ''brevis'' meaning "short" with ''pes'', ''pedis'' meaning "foot".

It is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the shikra (''Tachyspiza badia''), though it differs in measurements, proportions and plumage, and breeds contiguously with the latter (typically considered a reliable indicator of speciation) over at least part of its range. Along with the shikra, the Chinese sparrowhawk (''Tachyspiza soloensis'') and the Nicobar sparrowhawk (''Tachyspiza butleri''), it makes up a complex species group. It is known to have hybridised with the shikra and the Eurasian sparrowhawk. Despite its extensive range, no subspecies are recognised.

Description

The Levant sparrowhawk is a small raptor with short broad wings and a longish tail, both adaptations to maneuvering through trees. It is similar to the Eurasian sparrowhawk, but its shorter tail and more pointed wings give it a more falcon-like appearance. It is much smaller than most raptors, measuring in length with a wingspan of . As with all birds of prey, the female is larger than the male. The male is blue-grey above and pale below, with underparts and leg feathers finely barred in rufous and white. His head is blue-grey as well, with a white throat bisected by a dark central stripe (sometimes quite faint). The female is slate-grey above with darkish wingtips and is barred reddish brown below and may show a dark throat line. Both sexes have orangish-yellow legs and a yellow cere. The juvenile is dark brown above, has dark-streaked underparts and it shows a dark throat line.

Behaviour

Breeding

The Levant sparrowhawk breeds from mid-May through August. The pair is territorial while breeding, often performing high-circling aerial displays. The female is thought to make the nest. She builds a new one every year, a small structure of twigs on a branch or in a fork of a broad-leaved tree. The nest tree is often near running water, typically in open woodland, on a forest edge, or in an isolated clump of trees. The nest, which measures up to across and deep, is lined with green leaves. Most nests are located between above the ground, but they have been found as low as and as high as .

The female lays a clutch of which she alone incubates for . Hatching is asynchronous. Nestlings fledge some after hatching and are independent about later.

Flight and migration

Though able to flap continually (like most birds), Levant sparrowhawks typically use soaring-and-gliding flight while migrating; they also use thermals when those are available, and are known to occasionally hover.

Hunting

It hunts small birds, insects, rodents, and lizards in woodland or semi-desert areas, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch to catch its prey unaware.

Population

According to BirdLife International, Levant Sparrowhawks have a global population size of 8,190-20,400 mature individuals, with 75-94% percent of them living in Europe. It should be mentioned though that it is likely that this is an underestimate due to difficulties with identification and its secretive nature. In Armenia the population of Levant Sparrowhawks is estimated as 180–220 breeding pairs.

Conservation and threats

Because of its vast range and stable population, the Levant Sparrowhawk is listed as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The development of wind farms may affect its numbers.

References

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q114338

Levant sparrowhawk
Levant sparrowhawk
Birds of prey of Europe
Birds of West Asia
Wintering birds of Africa