Black Sparrowhawk

Also known as Accipiter melanoleucus, Black goshawk

species of bird

Species

Least Concern

Large black and white Accipiter hawk that occurs across the Afrotropics. Prefers habitats where trees are found but will hunt in open areas as well. Adapts to artificial forests (plantations) as well. Prefers the still hunting methods and preys mainly on birds.

via IUCN

~14 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The black sparrowhawk (Astur melanoleucus), sometimes known as the black goshawk or great sparrowhawk, is a bird of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae. It was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter. It occurs mainly in forest and non-desert areas south of the Sahara, particularly where there are large trees suitable for nesting; favored habitat includes suburban and human-altered landscapes. It preys predominantly on birds of moderate size, such as pigeons and doves, in suburban areas.

Taxonomy

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Black Sparrowhawk” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.