Japanese Sparrowhawk

Tachyspiza gularis

Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Common migrant · Size: 25–31 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds in Siberia, northeastern China, Korea, and Japan; winters to southern China and Southeast Asia.

Identification

Male has dark grey upperparts, pinkish-rufous barring on underparts, reddish eyes with yellow eyering, and yellow cere; mesial stripe faint or absent. Female about 15% larger, with browner upperparts, yellowish eyes, and grey-barred underparts. Juvenile has darker brown upperparts, white supercilium, streaked or spotted breast, and broken bars on flanks. In flight, shows five fingers and is broader-winged than Chinese Sparrowhawk (which has four fingers). Juveniles may be confused with juvenile Besra and juvenile Shikra, but those species have proportionally smaller heads, more rounded wings, and proportionally longer tail. Eurasian Sparrowhawk is larger, lacks mesial stripe, has six fingers, and a longer tail. Crested Goshawk differs by having six fingers, very prominent mesial stripe, and much more rounded wings.

Habitat

Forest, forest edge, wooded areas and open country. In Singapore, may be observed anywhere during the migratory season.