Japanese Sparrowhawk

The Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis) is the most common accipiter in Singapore.

There are 3 subspecies – gularis, sibiricus and iwasakii. The nominate race is found in Japan and islands off East Russia; wintering in Southeast Asia. sibiricus is found in Mongolia east to Taiwan, wintering in Southeast Asia. iwasakii is found in Ryukyu Islands [1].

In Singapore, it is listed as a common winter visitor and passage migrant. Early/late dates: 25Aug/25May.

It has yellow orbital rings, yellow cere, five fingers, heavily-spotted underwing coverts, bulging secondaries, thin uppertail bands, thin tarsi. It usually has an indistinct supercilium and lacks a prominent mesial streak.

Male has red irises, rufous chest and grey hood.

Adult male, Neo Tiew Lane 2, 1Apr2006 ©Con Foley

Adult male, Lorong Halus, 23Nov2013 ©Lau JS

Adult male, Lorong Halus, 18Dec2013 ©Con Foley

Immature male, Bidadari, 14Jan2016 ©Con Foley

Female has yellow irises, barred underparts and grey hood.

Juvenile has yellow irises, streaked throat and breast, barred belly and brown hood.

Juvenile, Pulau Punggol, 22Nov2011 ©Con Foley

Juvenile, Poyan, 1Jan2008 ©Danny Lau

Juvenile. Left: Changi, 6Oct2012 ©Tan KH. Right: Japanese Garden ©Tan GC

Juvenile, Lorong Halus, 14Dec2013 ©Lau JS

Juvenile, Changi, 11Dec2010 ©Lau JS

Juvenile, Changi, 4Nov2008 ©Con Foley

Juvenile, Jurong Lake, 18Nov2006 ©Lau SY

Juvenile, Tuas, 1Nov2014 ©Tan KH

Juvenile, Jelutong Tower, 18Oct2014 ©Tan KH

It can be mis-ID as the rare Besra if one only looks for thick tail bands to ID the Besra.

Juvenile, Changi, 17Nov2012 ©Lau JS

Juvenile, Tuas, 16Nov2013 ©Lau JS

It feeds on small birds.

It inhabits woodlands.

It has been sighted at Admiralty Park, Bukit Batok, Bidadari, Botanic Gardens, Bukit Timah, Central Catchment, Changi, Choa Chu Kang, Dairy Farm, Jurong Lake, Lorong Halus, Marina South, Neo Tiew, Pulau Punggol, Pulau Semakau, Pulau Ubin, Punggol, Sentosa, Simei, Simpang, Singapore Strait, Southern Ridges, Sungei Buloh, Tampines, Tuas, Western Catchment, Yishun.