With more than 50 species now recognised, the sparrowhawks and goshawks comprise the largest single group of raptors – the genus Accipiter. These are skilful and tenacious hunters, some of which (typically sparrowhawks) have long, thin toes for seizing birds in flight, while others (typically goshawks) have shorter, stouter toes for tackling mammals and reptiles. Their relatively short wings and longish tails give them astonishing manoeuvrability in forests.

Plate 34: Chanting-goshawks and Gabar Goshawk

Plate 35: Afrotropical Accipiters I
               Shikra; Ovambo and Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawks

Plate 36: Afrotropical Accipiters II
               Sparrowhawks – Little; Red-thighed; Chestnut-flanked

Plate 37: Afrotropical Accipiters III
               Great Sparrowhawk; African Goshawk

Plate 38: Endemic Malagasy Accipiters
               Henst’s Goshawk; Madagascar and Frances’s Sparrowhawks

Plate 39: Holarctic and Palearctic Accipiters
               Northern Goshawk; Northern and Levant Sparrowhawks

Plate 40: East Palearctic and Indomalayan Accipiters
               Japanese and Chinese Sparrowhawks; Besra

Plate 41: Indomalayan and Endemic Sulawesi Accipiters
               Nicobar Sparrowhawk; Crested and Sulawesi Crested Goshawks

Plate 42: Endemic Sulawesi Accipiters
               Sparrowhawks – Vinous-breasted; Sulawesi Small; Spot-tailed

Plate 43: Endemic Moluccan and Fijian Accipiters
               Moluccan Sparrowhawk; Moluccan and Fiji Goshawks

Plate 44: Endemic New Guinea Accipiters and Allies
               Doria’s and Bϋrgers’s Hawks; Black-mantled and Grey-headed                Goshawks

Plate 45: Endemic New Britain and Melanesian Accipiters
               New Britain and New Caledonia Goshawks; Slaty-backed and New                Britain Sparrowhawks

Plate 46: Endemic New Guinea and Melanesian Accipiters
               Meyer’s and Pied Goshawks; Imitator Sparrowhawk

Plate 47: Australasian Accipiters
               Goshawks – Grey; Varied; Grey-throated

Plate 48: Australasian Accipiters and Red Hawk
               Collared Sparrowhawk; Brown Goshawk; Red Hawk

Plate 49: Nearctic and Neotropical Accipiters
               Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks

Plate 50: Endemic Cuban and Neotropical Accipiters
               Gundlach’s and Bicoloured Hawks

Plate 51: Neotropical Accipiters
               Semicollared and Tiny Hawks; Grey-bellied Goshawk