Great Sparrowhawk

Accipiter melanoleucus

Other Names

  Black Goshawk, Pied Goshawk, Black Sparrowhawk, Black-and-white Sparrowhawk, Black-and-white Goshawk   Autour noir   Mohrenhabicht   Azor Blanquinegro   Svart Sparvhök, Stor Sparvhök   Zwarte Havik   Astore nero

World: East Sudan, North and West Ethiopia; Senegal and Gambia East to Kenya and South to Angola and South Africa.

Kenya: Widespread and reasonably common in West and Central Kenya up to 3000m and along the coast.

Kenya's largest Accipiter, usually found alone or in pairs with a pair needing a territory of around 13 sq Km in Kenya. Feeds mainly on birds, especially Pigeons, Doves and Francolins but will also take small mammals and reptiles. In Kenya it breeds Mar-Jun and Oct-Dec. The bird above is a juvenile photographed at Lake Nakuru in August, The adult has clean white underparts or in the dark morph is all black with a white throat.