The besra (Accipiter virgatus) belongs to the family Accipitridae. These besra species are distributed in Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Taxonomy of Besra
- Scientific Name: Accipiter virgatus
- Common Name: Besra
- French: Épervier besra; German: Besrasperber; Spanish: Gavilán besra;
- Other names: Falco virgatus Temminck, 1822;
- Family: Accipitridae › Accipitriformes › Aves › Chordata › Animalia
- Species author: Temminck, 1822
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| Indian birds - Image of Besra - Accipiter virgatus |
Description
The besra is a small bird of prey, measuring 25 to 35 cm in length and weighing 80 to 140 grams. The female is slightly larger and weighs 130 to 210 grams. The besra has short broad wings and a long tail. The underwings are barred. The upper parts of male are dark blue-grey and the underparts are whitish with reddish barring. The female is dark brown on the upper parts. The call is a loud 'ki-we' sound.Habitat
These species inhabit deciduous and evergreen forests, dense forests, savannah and cultivated lands.Feeding habits
The besra feeds on large insects, small birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs.Breeding
The besra breeding season changes with the range and in the north India it is from March to June. They build nest in trees and the clutch is 2 to 5 eggs.Distribution
The besra species are distributed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, central and south China, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Philippines.Movement Patterns
The besra is a sedentary resident bird. The birds in Nepal and Himalayas may move southwards in winter.Status and conservation
The besra global population is estimated to number 100,000 individual birds. These species have large range and population and are hence considered least vulnerable. The habitat loss due human activities is the main threat for the survival of these species of birds.The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these sparrowhawk species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".
| Biological classification of Accipiter virgatus | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Accipiter |
| Species: | A. virgatus |
| Binomial name: | Accipiter virgatus |
| Distribution: | Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and East Asia; |
| Feeding habits: | small birds, small mammals, lizards and insects; |
| IUCN status listing: |  Least Concern |
Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Besra_Sparrowhawk.jpg
Image author: Ash7103 | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic in Birds of India: Besra - Accipiter virgatus.
