Red-thighed Sparrowhawk
Tachyspiza erythropus
A small sparrowhawk of lowland forests in West and Central Africa, about the size of a large pigeon. Look for this species’ white rump and dark blackish head, back, and tail. From below, this species always has a bright white throat and variably reddish underparts that can sometimes be barred. Blunt, rounded wings and a slightly long tail give it a similar shape to the Red-chested Sparrowhawk, but note this species' small size and extremely dark upperparts.
Identification
A very small, dove-sized sparrowhawk with a distinctive tail pattern. The red-thighed sparrowhawk is sexually dimorphic, the males of the nominate subspecies having very dark grey upperparts with a white crescent on the lower rump which is conspicuous in flight, as are three white broken tail bars on the dark grey tail. In contrast to the blackish cheeks the throat is white with the rest of the underparts pinkish white. The vermilion eye is surrounded by a red eye ring, the cere is orange red and the legs are bright orange yellow. Males of the subspecies A.e. zenkeri have deep rufous underparts and more obvious white spots on the tail. Females are much bigger than the males, with browner upperparts and a more brownish orange eye. Juveniles normally have the underparts barred with brown, sometimes up to the breast. The body length is 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) and the wingspan is 40 cm (16 in).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tachyspiza erythropus
- Authority
- (Hartlaub, 1855)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Tachyspiza
Range and habitat
The red-thighed sparrowhawk is found in lowland primary rainforest, along the forest edges and in clearings, as well as in older secondary forest. There are currently two recognised subspecies of red-thighed sparrowhawk.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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