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Endemic Species White-whiskered Laughingthrush
Yellow Tit
Endemic Sub-Species
Winter Wren
More Birds in Taiwan
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Besra Accipiter virgatus fuscipectus
Endemic subspecies
The Besra is a medium-sized (23-36 cm) dark hawk. The adult male is dark gray above, with blackish bars on the tail. The underparts are white with rufous and brown bars, and the throat is white with a black mesial stripe. The iris, legs and feet are yellow, and the bill is black with a yellow cere. The female is larger than the male, and generally browner. The barring on the male of the Taiwan race fuscipectus is more brownish than rufous, and it is brownish-gray above rather than pure gray as in the mainland races, so that differences between males and females are small when viewed from above. Immatures are brown, with a more strongly streaked breast. In flight, the Besra shows rounded wings and a longish tail. The Besra inhabits a wide variety of forests from sea level to 2400 m. Its food consists mainly of birds, but also of insects, lizards and small mammals. It hunts by sitting quietly in the forest waiting for its prey. Avian prey is usually captured following a quick aerial chase. Both sexes participate in building the small nest which is usually placed 15-25 m. up in a large tree in the forest and is lined with green leaves. Usually 2-4 eggs are laid. The Besra is a common resident of Taiwan year-round.
References: A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 2; N. J. Collar, “Endemic subspecies of Taiwan birds—first impressions”, in Birding ASIA, Number 2, December 2004
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