Field Guide

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Tachyspiza soloensis

Aves › Tachyspiza

Chinese Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza soloensis)
Photo: (c) anukma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by anukma, cc-by

The Chinese sparrowhawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. This species was formerly placed in the genus Accipiter.

How To Identify

Measuring around 30-35 cm, it has dark brown plumage marked with contrasting white and buff streaks. Its namesake 'sparrowhawk' appearance is characterized by relatively large eyes and a moderately long tail.

Habitat

It typically inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, cultivated areas, and scrubland across lowland and foothill regions of eastern Asia.

Behaviour

This sparrowhawk is an agile aerial hunter that pursues small birds and large insects in swift, acrobatic flight, often hovering briefly before striking.

Native Range

The Chinese sparrowhawk is native to Southeast China, Taiwan, Korea, and Siberia.

Did You Know?

The Chinese Sparrowhawk is one of the smallest raptors in its range, weighing only 50–90 grams, yet it fearlessly hunts agile prey like insects and small birds in mid-air. Despite its tiny size, it demonstrates the characteristic hunting prowess of true hawks.

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