The
shikra (
Accipiter badius) is a small
bird of prey in the family
Accipitridae found widely distributed in Asia and Africa where it is also called the
little banded goshawk. The African forms may represent a separate species but have usually been considered as subspecies of the shikra. The shikra is very similar in appearance to other sparrowhawk species including the
Chinese goshawk and
Eurasian sparrowhawk. They have a sharp two note call and have the typical flap and glide flight. Their calls are imitated by
drongos and the
common hawk-cuckoo resembles it in plumage.