Shikra Accipiter badius

The Shikra is related to the Eurasian Sparrowhawk. It is native to much of Asia (from the Near East through Central Asia to South and Southeast Asia), with a subspecies or separate related species (the Little Banded Goshawk) throughout Africa.

The female is larger with a brown back and brown banding similar to a female Sparrowhawk. The male, shown, is similar to a male Sparrowhawk with much paler silver-grey back/wings, lighter russet banding on the front, and very light underwings. Plumage intensity varies a little by subspecies over its vast range. That shown appears to be a juvenile male with yellow irises since the adult female has orange and the adult male deep russet-red irises.

The Shikra's nest is built in a hole high up in the inaccessible rock face.

The top two rows of photos were taken by Alexandra Makhnina and the in-flight photos by Elizabeth Barrett, all in southern Kazakhstan.