Yesterday I ringed a male Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk in Keurboom Park, Cape Town, South Africa. This species does not normally occur in the park but does occur in the forests of nearby Table Mountain and there is a resident pair in nearby Rondebosch Common. This individual was found in Keurboom Park on 27 May. It was noticed due to being mobbed by a Cape Batis – both these species were first sightings for the park! However, something was clearly wrong with the sparrowhawk, even though sitting high in a fig tree. With some helpers, I caught the bird – it was concussed and one leg was injured, so it must have flown into a nearby structure. The bird was taken to the SPCA in Velddrif for rehabilitation.
The SPCA brought the sparrowhawk to the same site yesterday where I was able to ring it. Its small size showed it to be a male. The weight had increased from 105g when found to 139g on release. Mass data in Roberts 7 is: males 101–145 (av 120, n=5), females 180–220 (av 202, n=5). It was great to watch the bird fly off strongly!
I have ringed one Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk previously, when it was hunting at a Cape Weaver roost (Promerops 320:23, scroll to p23 in linked pdf).
Fact sheet:
Number ringed to date (SAFRING): 46 [1948-2024]
Longevity: n/a
Trip report: n/a
Reason special: very few ringed
