Chinese Sparrowhawk

Tachyspiza soloensis

Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Common migrant · Size: 29–35 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds in southeastern Siberia, central and eastern China to Korea, wintering in Southeast Asia, including the Thai-Malay Peninsula, the Philippines, and the Greater Sundas.

Identification

In all plumages, differs from other sparrowhawks by narrow pointed wings showing only four fingers in flight and nearly unmarked underwing-coverts. Adult male has uniform grey upperparts, red irides, dark grey orbital ring, orange-yellow cere, pinkish-orange breast, and obvious black wingtips. Female similar but with browner upperparts, yellow irides, and less uniform orange underparts. Juvenile has rufous-barred flanks and occasionally a mesial stripe, making them superficially similar to juvenile Grey-faced Buzzard, but that species has much longer and less pointed wings. Besra, Shikra, and Japanese Sparrowhawk have five fingers; Crested Goshawk and Eurasian Sparrowhawk have six.

Habitat

Forest, forest edge, secondary growth, wooded areas, open country, parks and gardens.