| Black sparrowhawk | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
| Adult females of the light and dark morphs respectively | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Astur |
| Species: | A. melanoleucus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Astur melanoleucus (Smith, 1830)
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| Subspecies[2] | |
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| |
| global range Year-Round Range Summer Range Winter Range
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The black sparrowhawk (Astur melanoleucus), sometimes known as the black goshawk or great sparrowhawk, is the largest species of True hawk in Africa.[3] It occurs mainly in forest and non-desert areas south of the Sahara, particularly where there are large trees suitable for nesting; favored habitat includes suburban and human-altered landscapes.[3] It preys predominantly on birds of moderate size, such as pigeons and doves, in suburban areas.[4]
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Accipiter melanoleucus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22695673A93522165. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695673A93522165.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2020. IOC World Bird List (v10.2). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.10.2.
- ^ a b Arkive. Black goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus). In: Arkive: Images of Life on Earth. <[1]>. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
- ^ Curtis O.E., Hockey P.A.R., Koeslag A. 2007. Competition with Egyptian geese Alopochen aegyptiaca overrides environmental factors in determining productivity of Black Sparrowhawks Accipiter melanoleucus. Ibis 149: 502‐508.