1. Adults are paler in coloration than Besra and Eurasian Sparrowhawk.
2. Underwings are pale, with fine barring on remiges and slightly darker wing tip.
3. Head is cuckoo type compared to other accipiters.
4. Tarsi are thick and the feet are thick and stubby.
5. Does not have barring on thighs.
6. The number of tail bands on the upper side corresponds to the bars on the underside, and this one has more than 5 bands.

Adult Male Paler than Besra and Eurasian Sparrowhawk. Underwing Pale with fine barring on remiges and slightly darker wing tips. Male has pale blue-grey upperparts, indistinct grey gular stripe, fine brownish-orange barrings underparts, unbarred white thighs and unbarred or lightly barred central tail feathers.

Female Same as above, but upper parts more brownish grey.

Juvenile Medium or pale brown upperparts, more prominent gular stripe and streaked underparts, told from juv. Besra by paler upperparts and narrow tail barring and from eurasian sparrowhawk by streaked underparts.

Breeding Jan to June

Distribution Through out India except NW India, Himalaya

See below Shikra images in various plumages for ID help: