Shikra aka little banded goshawk (ស្ទាំងស្លាបឆែក) is a small bird of prey that lives in Cambodia and many parts of the world. This bird got its name from the Urdu word Shikari and the Hindi word Shikaaree, both of which mean “hunter”. While being common in many areas in other countries, the data seems to be not sufficient in Cambodia. What we discuss today is going to be the general information about shikra so that you know more about them. Let’s find out more with me below.
Appearance
As a small raptor, a shikra can grow from 26 to 45 centimeters long including the long tail. Adult shikras have gray upper parts and whitish on the underside with fine rufous bars. On their throats is a dark and narrow mesial stripe, and they have short rounded wings that have blackish wing tips. Males of this species have red irises while the females have yellowish-orange irises and slightly larger body size.
Feeding & Habitats
Being ambush predators, a shikra perches and takes its prey near the ground at a swoop. It can even snatch prey from foliage, tree trunks, or in flight as well. The diet of these raptors consists of insects, rodents, small birds, small reptiles, and squirrels. Sometimes they also descend to the ground to feast on emerging winged termites or hunt at dusk for small bats. On some rare occasions, shikras also feed on carrion or other animals. Small birds like kingfishers do not like to come across a shikra at all, and some even dive into the water to escape.
Shikra birds have a wide range across African and Asian countries, with over 60 countries in total. They are common in dry and moist woodlands, farmlands, forests, savannas, and urban areas where they hang out singly or in pairs. At the same time, they are also found in cultivated areas, dense and degraded forests, exotic tree plantations, riparian forests, and towns.
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