Accipiter cirrocephalus

1 Collared Sparrowhawk at Black Range, NSW

Accipiter cirrocephalus at Black Range, NSW - 5 May 2020
Accipiter cirrocephalus at Black Range, NSW - 5 May 2020
Accipiter cirrocephalus at Black Range, NSW - 5 May 2020
Request use of media

Identification history

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

A young Sparrowhawk; second photo gives better view of tail, and the centre toe/talon was long which is another diagnostic feature. The bird had some foliage (Pittosporum) tangled in one foot though the bird appeared uninjured, just slightly encumbered. Maybe it got tangled trying to catch prey. By the time we parted company (after the bird flew to several trees with me following) the foliage seemed to have come off. The Sparrowhawk had left the last tree by the time I returned to it half an hour later.

4 comments

JackieMiles wrote:
   5 May 2020
Certainly looks to have long slender legs, suggesting sparrowhawk, not goshawk. Pity the tail tip (square vs rounded) is not visible. What do you think it was doing hanging onto those pittosporum leaves?
   6 May 2020
Jackie, I have now added a second photo and some notes to better explain the sighting. Last night's posting was hurried and I did not have time for this additional material.
JackieMiles wrote:
   6 May 2020
Thanks. Tail does look squarish. Lucky you - the only close look I've ever had of one was when it flashed past right in front of my face in pursuit of a small bird. In a few microseconds I managed to register the barred underside and tiny size, but that was it - my best view of a sparrowhawk!
   6 May 2020
I have now posted a third photo in the series, this one was the sharpest and gives a little more info about the Sparrowhawk. It was a fortunate sighting, being able to follow the raptor at close range and get a number of images.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Nearby sightings

Page 3 of 3 - image sightings only

1  2  3 

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 5 May 2020 04:01 PM Recorded on
  • MatthewHiggins Recorded by

Species information

  • Accipiter cirrocephalus Scientific name
  • Collared Sparrowhawk Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Local native
  • Non-Invasive
  • Up to 814.48m Recorded at altitude
  • 219 images trained Machine learning
  • External link More information
  • Synonyms

    Accipiter (Paraspizias) cirrocephalus cirrocephalus Accipiter (Paraspizias) cirrocephalus
2,155,042 sightings of 19,961 species in 6,509 locations from 11,498 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.