Crested Goshawk

Lophospiza trivirgata

Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Uncommon resident · Size: 40–46 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Resident in parts of India, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the southern Philippines.

Identification

Adult has short crest (often depressed), slaty crown, broad dark mesial stripe, brown upperparts, bold rufous streaks on breast, and narrower dark bars on belly. Female larger, with browner-tinged crown and head-sides. Juvenile lacks mesial stripe, has browner upperparts, and plain underparts with scattered spotting. Distinguished from migratory sparrowhawks by bulging secondaries giving distinctly rounded wings and six fingers (vs. five or fewer); white undertail coverts often appear fluffy in flight.

Habitat

Forest, forest edge, and parkland.

Behaviour

Hunts from concealed perch in canopy and middle storey, launching short rapid attacks on birds, lizards, and large insects; has adapted well to disturbed parkland.