Shikra > The Little Banded Goshawk Belongs To The Accipiridae Family

Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

Sometimes called the Little Banded Goshawk, the Shikra is a territorial predator that hunts from the trees. Learn more about the shikra here.

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Information, Habitat & Description Of The Shikra

Shikra is a name derived from the Hindi word ‘shikaaree’ and the Urdu word ‘shikari.’ Both these words mean ‘hunter,’ an accurate description for this little predator.

They are sometimes revered to by other names, including Little Banded Goshawk, Shikra Goshawk, Indian Sparrowhawk, and several others.

They feed mostly on lizards, but also smaller birds, rodents, bats, frogs, and some types of insects as well. Hunting is done from the trees, as they fly from tree to tree and perch when they seek prey, pouncing on possible targets on the ground below.

Shikras are territorial and monogamous birds, which nest apart from other pairs. During that mating season, pairs can be seen chasing each other among the trees as part of their mating display.

Once paired, the male and female build a nest together, typically in the split of a tree branch. Usually one-to-four eggs are laid per season, and the incubation period lasts around twenty nine days.

During this time, the male feeds the female, as she is the one doing most of the incubation. However, the male does sometimes take over, to give the female time to forage.

The shikra can be found in large parts of sub-saharan Africa, eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and southern Asia, some can also be seen in parts of southern Africa.

They can be found in varying types of woodlands, from arid to moist, mostly with closed canopy and broad-leaved trees. They are sometimes also seen in parks, gardens and plantations.

As they are a territorial species, they are mostly resident, but partial migrations occur during the winter months.

Shikra feathers are mostly grey, however the males tend to be a more blueish grey with orange underparts, while the females have a browner grey tone overall. Another distinct difference is that males have red irises, while females have yellow irises.

Young shikras tend to have mostly brown colouring, with a distinct moustache stripe and stripes on their underparts.

The shikra in the image above was photographed in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, by photographer R. Nagda.

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Shikra > The Little Banded Goshawk Belongs To The Accipiridae Family

Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

INSPIRATION PHOTO

Information, Habitat & Description Of The Shikra

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Shikra > The Little Banded Goshawk Belongs To The Accipiridae Family

Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA

INSPIRATION PHOTO

Information, Habitat & Description Of The Shikra

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