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Levant Sparrowhawk




  Name Levant Sparrowhawk
  Regnum Animal ia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Aves
  Ordo Accipitriformes
  Familia Accipitridae
  Genus '' Accipiter ''
  Species '''''A brevipes'''''
  Binomial ''Accipiter brevipes''
  Binomial Authority ( Severtzov , 1850 )


The Levant Sparrowhawk (''Accipiter brevipes'') is a small Bird Of Prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal Raptor s such as Eagle s, Buzzard s and Harrier s.

It breeds in forests from Greece and the Balkans east to southern Russia . It is Migratory , wintering from Egypt across to southwestern Iran . It will migrate in large flocks, unlike the more widespread Sparrowhawk

The Levant Sparrowhawk nests in trees, building a new nest, lined with green leaves, each year. The normal clutch is 3-5 egs. It hunts small Bird s, Insect s and Lizard s in woodland, relying on surprise as it flies from a perch to catch its prey unaware.

This bird is a small raptor with short broad wings and a longish tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. It is similar to the Sparrowhawk, but its shorter tail and more pointed wings give it a more Falcon-like appearance.

Levant Sparrowhawk is 30-37 cm long with a 63-76 cm wingspan. The female is larger than the male, but the difference is not as marked as with Sparrowhawk. The adult male is blue-grey above, with dark wingtips, and barred reddish below.

The adult female is slate-grey above with darkish wingtips. She is barred reddish brown below, and may show a dark throat line. The juvenile is dark brown above and has dark-streaked underparts It shows a dark throat line. The flight of this hawk is a characteristic "flap – flap – glide".

The call is a sharp "kee-wick".