Black sparrowhawk | |
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Adult females of the light and dark morphs respectively | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Accipitriformes |
Family: | Accipitridae |
Genus: | Astur |
Species: | A. melanoleucus
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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]