Top 8 Types of Hawks Found in India
Hawks are birds of prey from the family Accipitridae and widely distributed in different continents. Buteo group are also known as Hawks but they are Buzzards, There are 8 species of Hawks Found in India, listed below.
Shikra (Tachyspiza badia) ! True Hawks of India
The shikra is also called by name little banded goshawk, Is the real Hawks of India and most common Indian raptors.
Shikra is favourite among falconers in India, known for hunting style and his calls and plumage are resembles by black drongos and common hawk-cuckoo.
Besra (Tachyspiza virgata)
The besra or the besra sparrowhawk is another small sized bird of prey and besra is from the Hindi word for the species.
Besra species is like a more darker version of the shikra and also prey on lizards, birds and small mammals.
Northern Goshawk (Astur gentilis) ! Eurasian Goshawk
The Eurasian goshawk is a hawk and diurnal raptor, inhabits many parts of the Eurasia and visit India in winter season. Goshawk hunt down quail, pheasants and partridge, also a forest-dwelling raptors.
Crested Goshawk (Lophospiza trivirgata)
The crested goshawk is rare and a secretive forest bird that hunts on small mammals, birds and reptiles, breeds in Himalayas foothills of India to Southern Asia.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey and can be found in hunting on garden birds in towns and outskirts of cities.
Sparrowhawk is a wholly migratory bird, wintering in India from the Himalayas to Central India.
Nicobar Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza butleri)
Nicobar sparrowhawk is a species of bird of prey endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India but threatened by habitat loss.
This species is restricted to the Nicobar islands only and very much similar in looking likes other hawks of India.
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza gularis)
Japanese Sparrowhawk known by many alternative names and a small raptor generally breeds in parts of Russia and said to appear at altitudes of Himalayas foothills in North East Indian states.
Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis)
Chinese Sparrowhawk is not a common bird that found in India, but been recorded while passing through the country during migration.
Eurasian Hobby, Oriental Hobby, Merlin and Common kestrel are few more species of birds of prey and Indian raptors, Other diurnal raptors found in India such as Black baza, small eagles, Kites, Buzzards and Harriers.
