it for . However, it often perches quietly within the canopy, when not hunting. The Ovambo sparrowhawk is territorial and the female does most of the nest-building, creating a platform of sticks lined with bark chips and occasionally green leaves. It is typically placed in the canopy of a tree, either a native tree or an alien tree such as eucalyptus. The eggs are laid in August to November, peaking in August and September and the clutch is between one and five eggs. The female incubates the eggs, while the male brings her food, usually 2-3 times a day. The male continues to be the sole provider of food for both the female and the chicks for 18 days after hatching, after which the female starts to hunt too. The young fledge after 33–39 days and become fully independent about a month after that. Taxonomy The Ovambo sparrowhawk is apparently closely related to the Madagascar sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascarensis and phylogenetic analysis supports these two species forming a well defined clade. References External links Ovambo Sparrowhawk - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Ovampo sparrowhawk Birds of prey of Sub-Saharan Africa Ovampo sparrowhawk Ovampo sparrowhawk Taxonomy articles created by Polbot