New Britain sparrowhawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Britain sparrowhawk |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Accipiter
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| Species: |
brachyurus
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The New Britain sparrowhawk (Accipiter brachyurus) is a special bird of prey. It is a threatened species, which means there are not many left. This bird lives only on two islands in Papua New Guinea: New Britain and New Ireland. Even a long time ago, in 1934, a scientist named Ernst Mayr found that these sparrowhawks were very rare.
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About the New Britain Sparrowhawk
What Does It Look Like?
These sparrowhawks have a grey body and a white tummy. They also have cool orange spots on their neck. One special thing about them is their big feet! They are the only hawk in New Britain or the Solomon Islands that has a middle toe longer than the others. Their feet are a pale yellow color. These small birds only grow to be about 27 to 34 centimeters long. That's about the length of a school ruler!
Where Does It Live?
This bird lives in warm, wet mountain forests. These forests are found high up in the mountains, usually between 1,200 and 1,800 meters above sea level. That's like living on top of many tall buildings! New Britain sparrowhawks build nests, just like other birds, to raise their young. We don't know much about these birds because they are so rare. Also, the places where they live have not been studied very much.
Why Is It in Danger?
Scientists believe there are only about 1,000 to 2,500 of these birds left. The biggest problem for them is that they are losing their homes. People are cutting down the forests where these birds live, especially in the lower areas. When forests are cleared on these small islands, the birds have less space to live. This makes their home less safe, which puts them in danger.
Right now, we don't know of any special plans to help save them. However, some people have suggested ideas. They want to count the birds to see how many there are. They also want to find their nests and map out where the remaining forests are. There are also plans to ask local communities to help protect large areas of the forest.
