Tachyspiza minulla
The Little Sparrowhawk, *Tachyspiza minulla*, is Africa's smallest accipiter, a true marvel of aerial agility and stealth. Measuring just 23-30 cm in length with a wingspan of 40-50 cm, males are noticeably smaller than females, exhibiting clear sexual dimorphism. Adults showcase a striking slate-grey back, a contrasting white underside often washed with rufous and delicate barring, and distinctive rufous thighs—a key field mark. Their bright yellow eyes and cere, coupled with short, rounded ...
This adaptable raptor inhabits a variety of wooded environments, including savannas, riverine forests, dense thickets, and even suburban gardens, from sea level up to 3000 meters. They thrive in areas with a mix of open and dense vegetation, crucial for hunting and cover.
Predominantly an avian specialist, its diet primarily consists of small birds (such as doves, sunbirds, and weavers), but it also readily consumes large insects (like locusts and mantises), small reptiles, and small mammals, caught by ambush or swift pursuit.
The Little Sparrowhawk is a diurnal and often crepuscular hunter, exhibiting a solitary nature outside the breeding season and roosting inconspicuously within dense tree foliage. Its primary foraging strategy is the classic 'sit-and-wait' ambush, perching quietly within cover to scan for unsuspec...
The Little Sparrowhawk is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting a broad band from Senegal in West Africa, eastward through the Sahel region and Central Africa to Ethiopia and Somalia, and then southward through East Africa to the very tip of South Africa. It is a largely reside...
Least Concern
- The Little Sparrowhawk is the smallest accipiter species found on the African continent, a true featherweight among raptors. - Its distinctive rufous thighs are a reliable field mark, earning it the alternative common name "Rufous-thighed Sparrowhawk. - Despite its small size, it is known to su...