Nicobar Sparrowhawk
Encyclopedia
The Nicobar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter butleri) is a species of bird of prey
in the Accipitridae
family. It is endemic to the Nicobar Islands
of India
. There are two subspecies, the nominate race which is found on Car Nicobar
in the north of the archipelago, and A. b. obsoletus, from Katchal
and Camorta
in the central part of the Nicobars. A museum specimen
originally attributed to this species from the island of Great Nicobar
was later found to be a misidentified Besra
.
Its natural habitat
is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
s. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
in the Accipitridae
Accipitridae
The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...
family. It is endemic to the Nicobar Islands
Nicobar Islands
The Nicobar Islands are an archipelagic island chain in the eastern Indian Ocean...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. There are two subspecies, the nominate race which is found on Car Nicobar
Car Nicobar
Car Nicobar is the northernmost of the Nicobar Islands. It is also one of two local administrative divisions of the Indian district of Nicobar, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands....
in the north of the archipelago, and A. b. obsoletus, from Katchal
Katchal
Katchal is one of the Nicobar Islands, India. Its area is .It is approximately away from mainland and south to capital Port Blair....
and Camorta
Camorta
Camorta is one of the Nicobar Islands, India. Its area is 188 km²....
in the central part of the Nicobars. A museum specimen
Bird collections
Bird collections are curated repositories of scientific specimens consisting of birds and their parts. They are a research resource for ornithology, the science of birds, and for other scientific disciplines in which information about birds is useful...
originally attributed to this species from the island of Great Nicobar
Great Nicobar
Great Nicobar is the largest of the Nicobar Islands of India, north of Sumatra. Indira Point, its southernmost tip, is also the southernmost point of India. The island of Sumatra is located to the south of Great Nicobar...
was later found to be a misidentified Besra
Besra
The Besra, Accipiter virgatus, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.The Besra is a widespread resident breeder in dense forests throughout south Asia from Pakistan and India to south China and Indonesia. It nests in trees, building a new nest each year...
.
Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s. It is threatened by habitat loss.