Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Sparrowhawk
Accipiter madagascariensis
Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 180 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Accipiter
- Species madagascariensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 180 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Madagascar (except c).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 180 g, with a wing length of about 19.1 cm and a tail of around 15 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 477,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Sparrowhawk?
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 180 g.
Where does the Madagascar Sparrowhawk live?
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk is found across Africa with a range covering AF Madagascar (except c), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Madagascar Sparrowhawk belong to?
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Madagascar Sparrowhawk eat?
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Madagascar Sparrowhawk migrate?
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar Sparrowhawk endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Madagascar Sparrowhawk make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar Sparrowhawk — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Madagascar Sparrowhawk's range?
The Madagascar Sparrowhawk has a mapped global range of about 477,000 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.