Scientific Name: Tachyspiza soloensis
Malay Name: Helang-Sewah Cina
Chinese Name: 赤腹鹰
Alternative Name(s): Chinese Goshawk
Range: Found from Siberia, China to Korea and wintering to Southeast Asia
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 29-35 cm
Identification: Adult Chinese Sparrowhawk can be easily separated from other accipiter species by its dark greyish upperparts, prominent orange-yellow cere, virtually unmarked underwing-coverts and black-tipped primaries. Male has dark red eyes and pink-washed breast while female has yellowish eyes and more rufous-washed breast. Juvenile resembles juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk but has very little to moderate markings on underwing-coverts and no yellowish eyering. Both adult and juvenile shows four prominent fingers in flight.
Similar looking species: Crested Goshawk, Japanese Sparrowhawk, Besra, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Shikra
Habitat: Forest, forest edge, secondary growth, wooded areas, open country, parks and gardens.
Behaviour/Ecology:
Local Status: Common migrant
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021)
Location: Central Catchment Forest, Tuas South, Changi, Lorong Halus, Punggol Barat, Bidadari, Kent Ridge Park, Mount Faber, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Chinese/Japanese Gardens, Sungei Buloh, Kranji Marsh and Pulau Ubin.
- RAP201: How to Identify Uncommon Raptors (ID Articles)
- RAP101: How to Identify Common Raptors (ID Articles)
- RAP301: What is that raptor? (ID Articles)
- Singapore Birds Project Raptor Watch at Henderson Waves (Blog)
- Primary bars – an unnoticed identification feature in sparrowhawks? (ID Articles)
Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Chinese Sparrowhawk)
References:
BirdLife International. (2021). Accipiter soloensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22695503A154677417.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
DeCandido, R., Nualsri, C., Siponen, M., Sutasha, K., Pierce, A., Murray. J. & Round, P. D. (2014) Flight identification and plumage descriptions of six Accipiter species on southbound migration at Khao Dinsor, Chumphon province, Thailand. BirdingASIA, 21, 52-62.
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Chinese Sparrowhawk. Retrieved on December 8, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/chinese-sparrowhawk.