Astur melanoleucus
The Black Sparrowhawk, *Astur melanoleucus*, is a striking and powerful raptor native to sub-Saharan Africa, often considered the largest and most formidable of the African sparrowhawks. Adults display remarkable sexual dimorphism in size, with females typically larger, ranging 58-65 cm in length and weighing 750-1200 g, while males are 50-58 cm and 430-650 g, both boasting a wingspan of 90-110 cm. Its most distinctive feature is its two prominent color morphs: the more common "white morph," ...
The Black Sparrowhawk primarily inhabits extensive evergreen and deciduous forests, woodlands, riverine strips, plantations (especially exotic pines and eucalypts), and even large suburban gardens with mature trees. It can be found from sea level up to altitudes of 3,000 meters.
The Black Sparrowhawk's diet consists predominantly of birds, ranging from doves and pigeons to francolins and even domestic fowl, occasionally supplemented by small mammals, reptiles, or large insects. It employs a sit-and-wait ambush strategy from concealed perches or swift, direct pursuit.
Black Sparrowhawks are diurnal hunters, typically spending much of the day perching inconspicuously within the forest canopy, observing their surroundings. Their foraging strategy involves stealthy approaches, often launching a swift, powerful dash from a hidden perch to capture prey, sometimes p...
The Black Sparrowhawk boasts an extensive distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, primarily within the Afrotropical realm. Its breeding range spans from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward across the continent through Ethiopia and Somalia, and southward through Central, East, and Southern Af...
Least Concern
- The Black Sparrowhawk is the largest and most powerful of the Accipiter hawks found anywhere in Africa. - It exhibits two distinct color morphs: a common "white morph" with black upperparts and white underparts, and a rarer "black morph" that is almost entirely glossy black. - Females are consi...