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Birds and Butterflies of Rhodes
RODOPTERA
Accipiter brevipes
Levant sparrowhawk (juvenile). Greek: σαϊvι (ανήλικο). Apolakia, October 2022.
Passage migrant, sporadic breeding, uncommon. Length 32-40 cm, wingspan 65-75 cm, female slightly larger than male. Male blue-grey above, barred reddish below, female slate grey above, barred brown below, some birds with dark central throat line, juvenile dark brown above, streaked brown below with dark central throat line. Distinctive long tail and reddish brown eyes. Falcon-like shape in flight. Forests, open areas with scattered trees. Hunts by surprise attack from tree perch, catches prey in fast low flight. Feeds mainly on small birds, also takes rodents, reptiles, large insects, bats. Nests in forests. Characteristic flap-flap-flap-glide cruising flight.
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