Shikra
Male with red ris
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Accipiter Species: A. badius
Binomial name
Accipiter badius Gmelin, 1788

The Shikra (Accipiter badius) is a small bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.

Immature with Browner upperparts in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Female with yellow iris at Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.

The Shikra is a widespread resident breeder throughout south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It nests in trees, building a new nest each year. It lays 3-7 eggs.

This bird is a small raptor (26-30cm) with short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to fast manoeuvring. The normal flight of this species is a characteristic "flap – flap – glide".

The adult Shikra has pale grey upperparts, and is white, finely barred reddish below. Sexes are similar except that female is larger than the male. The juvenile is brown above and white, spotted with brown below. It has a barred tail.

Shikra is a bird of open woodland including savannah and cultivation. Its hunting technique is similar to other small hawks such as Sparrowhawk, A. nisus, or Sharp-shinned Hawk, A. striatus, relying on surprise as it flies from a hidden perch or flicks over a bush to catch its prey unaware.

The prey is lizards, dragonflies, and small birds and mammals.

A roller coaster at Busch Gardens Africa, SheiKra, was named after this bird. In the computer game PRISM: Guard Shield by Rival Interactive & Rebellion Studios (and sponsored by the US Army National Guard) the primary sniper rifle is named the Shikra Mk7.

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Accipiter badius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6

Galleria

Immature in Hyderabad, India.	Immature in Narendrapur near Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Male at nest on Whistling Pine Casuarina equisetifolia in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	In Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Male in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Immature in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	Female at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.	Male at Roorkee in Haridwar District of Uttarakhand, India.
Immature at Roorkee in Haridwar District of Uttarakhand, India.	Female preening at Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.	Female at Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.	Male in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Shikra, Accipiter badius