The shikra is a small bird of prey found in Asia and Africa. It is similar in appearance to other sparrowhawk species and has a sharp two-note call. The shikra has short rounded wings and a narrow and somewhat long tail. The adults have whitish undersides with fine rufous bars and grey upperparts. The males have a red iris and the females have a less red (yellowish orange) iris and brownish upperparts. Shikras are found in a range of habitats including forests, farmland, and urban areas. They feed on rodents, small birds, small reptiles, and insects. They usually breed in the summer and make a platform nest similar to that of crows lined with grass. The usual clutch is 3 to 4 eggs which are pale bluish grey stippled on the broad end in black. The incubation period is 18 to 21 days.
Posted by siddharthx on 2018-01-29 16:11:32