Red-legged Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus

Red-legged Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus
(aka Red-thighed Sparrowhawk)

Ankasa, Ghana
May 2011

The Red-legged Sparrowhawk is distributed in Africa from the Gambia in the west to The DR Congo in the east. It is found in forest, forest edgings and clearings. This bird was perched on a utility wire across a track. It is normally unobtrusive.

It is very small being about the size of a wood dove. It is black above and grey-white below with a pinkish wash on the flanks. The eyes are orange-red while the cere and legs are yellow-orange.

It feeds on small birds and large insects.

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