Shikra (Accipiter badius) வைரி
The shikra (Accipiter badius) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae found widely distributed in Asia and Africa where it is also called the little banded goshawk. The African forms may represent a separate species but have usually been considered as subspecies of the shikra. The shikra is very similar in appearance to other sparrowhawk species including the Chinese goshawk and Eurasian sparrowhawk. They have a sharp two-note call and have the typical flap and glide flight. Their calls are imitated by drongos and the common hawk-cuckoo resembles it in plumage.
Shikra (Accipiter badius) observed 24-07-2020 at Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091(Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Accipiter
Species: A. badius
Binomial name: Accipiter badius Gmelin, 1788
Shikra (Accipiter badius) observed sitting on Moringa tree trunk at Madipakkam, Chennai - 600 091 on 24-07-2021 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
This Shikra was silently sitting on the Moringa tree and watching the playing bulbul birds. The shikra is a small raptor (26–30 cm long) and like most other Accipiter hawks, this species has short rounded wings and a narrow and somewhat long tail. The call is pee-wee, the first note being higher and the second being longer. In-flight the calls are shorter and sharper kik-ki ... kik-ki.
Shikra (Accipiter badius) observed sitting on Coconut tree near Madipakkam Lake, Chennai - 600 091 on 15-07-2020 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
A common, widespread resident across Asia and Africa. Adult males have a reddish iris, blue-gray upperparts, and fine brownish-orange barring on underparts. Females have a yellowish iris and brownish-gray upperparts. Both have narrow dark barring on the tail. Juveniles are browner with a prominent moustachial stripe and streaked underparts. It hunts for a wide variety of prey in woodland, savannah, and even suburban gardens, dashing out from perches within vegetation to grab its prey.
Shikra (Accipiter badius) observed sitting on a Coconut tree near Madipakkam Lake, Chennai - 600 091 on 15-07-2020 (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)
