Photo: Alan Manson / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
Accipiter rufiventris
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 198 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Accipiter
- Species rufiventris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 198 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, se, s.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 198 g, with a wing length of about 21.9 cm and a tail of around 16.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 756,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk?
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is a large bird that weighs around 198 g.
Where does the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk live?
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, se, s, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk belong to?
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk eat?
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk migrate?
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk's range?
The Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk has a mapped global range of about 756,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.