A master of the "flap-and-glide" flight, the Shikra is a tenacious ambush predator. It often sits motionless in dense foliage before launching a high-speed strike on lizards, squirrels, or small birds. Its compact, rounded wings allow it to maneuver through tangled branches with incredible agility. Renowned for its pluck and courage, this "little banded goshawk" was once a favorite in falconry (due to the ease with which it could be trained), admired for its ability to take down prey much larger than itself.