Tachyspiza erythropus
The Red-thighed Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza erythropus) is a captivating small raptor of the Accipitridae family, known for its agile flight and distinctive plumage. Measuring 23-28 cm in length with a wingspan of 45-57 cm, females are typically larger than the males, exhibiting moderate sexual dimorphism. Adults sport striking dark slate-grey upperparts, contrasting with clean white underparts often washed with rufous on the flanks. The species earns its common name from the prominent, rich rufo...
This forest-dwelling raptor primarily inhabits dense primary and secondary rainforests, often found at forest edges, clearings, and adjacent plantations. It generally prefers lowland areas, typically below 1,000 meters in elevation.
Its diet primarily consists of small birds (especially passerines), large insects (e.g., grasshoppers, mantises, beetles), and small reptiles like lizards, captured through agile pursuit flights from a hidden perch.
The Red-thighed Sparrowhawk is a diurnal and largely solitary hunter, typically observed perched silently within the forest canopy, often near water. Its foraging strategy involves ambush hunting, where it makes rapid, darting flights from a concealed perch to snatch small birds, insects, or rept...
The Red-thighed Sparrowhawk is widely distributed across West and Central Africa, extending from Senegal and Guinea-Bissau eastward through Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon, reaching as far as the Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Angola. While primarily a resident species, some loca...
Least Concern
- The 'red thighs' are perhaps its most distinctive feature, offering a reliable identification cue among similar-looking African sparrowhawks. - Despite its small size, it is a formidable and agile hunter, capable of navigating dense forest undergrowth with incredible precision. - Its scientific...