Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk
Accipiter rufiventris
Silhouette: Shyamal · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
- FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
- GenusAccipiter (True Accipiters)
- SpeciesAccipiter rufiventris (Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk)
About the Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk
The rufous-breasted sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris), also known as the rufous-chested sparrowhawk and as the red-breasted sparrowhawk, is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is found in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
A small raptor, with a height of about 30 cm and wingspan of 72 cm, the rufous-breasted sparrowhawk is named for its distinctive rufous-coloured underparts, which can be seen both perching and in flight. It is dark grey slate-brown above, including the head, with a black bill and eyes that are yellow at all ages.
In flight, the bold bars on both its wings and tail are clearly visible. Juvenile plumage ranges from the rufous-color of adults to more white, but all have feathers with dark shaft streaks on their underside. It can be differentiated from the similar Ovambo sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis) by its lack of a dark patch behind the eyes or white eyebrow.
The rufous-breasted sparrowhawk is in the family Accipitridae, and is a part of the genus Accipiter, which... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk in Nyungwe National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Nyungwe National Park
Ovampo Sparrowhawk
Accipiter ovampensis
Augur Buzzard
Buteo augur
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Mountain Buzzard
Buteo oreophilus
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Cassin's Hawk-Eagle
Aquila africana
Long-crested Eagle
Lophaetus occipitalis
Crowned Eagle
Stephanoaetus coronatus
African Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides typus
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Wahlberg's Eagle
Hieraaetus wahlbergi
European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bale Mountains National Park | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia | |
| 2 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Aberdare National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 4 | Volcanoes National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 5 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 6 | Virunga National Park | 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| 7 | Nyungwe National Park | 🇷🇼 Rwanda | |
| 8 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 9 | Liwonde National Park | 🇲🇼 Malawi | |
| 10 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 11 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 12 | Semuliki National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 13 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 14 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 15 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 16 | Murchison Falls National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 17 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk in Nyungwe National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk sighting in Nyungwe National Park, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk in Nyungwe National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk in Nyungwe National Park in our monthly data.