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Difference between revisions of "African Harrier-Hawk" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:African_Harrier_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Adult<br />Photo by {{user|Steve+G|Steve G}}<br />Near Lake Zwai, [[Ethiopia]], March 2005]]
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'''Alternative name: Gymnogene'''
 
;[[:Category:Polyboroides|Polyboroides]] typus
 
;[[:Category:Polyboroides|Polyboroides]] typus
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[[Image:African_Harrier_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Steve G.<br/>Photo taken: near Lake Zwai, [[Ethiopia]].]]
 
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==Other Names==
 
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Gymnogene; German: Schlangensperber, Höhlenweihe; Afrikaans: Kaalwangvalk
 
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== Subspecies ==
 
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Two to three subspecies are recognised: nominate in eastern and southern [[Africa]] and the smaller, darker and more heavily barred ''pectoralis'' in west and central [[Africa]]. Smaller and darker birds from western DRC are sometimes separated as ''prigoginei''.
 
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==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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As with other birds of prey, the bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. The bill is black, and the cere and facial skin are yellow (red when displaying). The feet and legs are yellow. The upperparts, head and neck are grey. There are large black spots on the wing coverts. The face is bright yellow, and the belly is finely barred with black and white. The tail is longish and is white, with a single white bar across the middle and a narrow white tip. The head is quite small compared to other raptors, and in flight the wings are broad and rounded.  
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[[Image:Immature_African_Harrier_Hawk.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Immature<br />Photo by {{user|David_H_UK|David_H_UK}}<br/>[[Kruger National Park]]  [[South Africa]], October 2008]]
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51–68 cm (20-26¾ in)<br />
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As with other birds of prey, the bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. The bill is black, and the [[Topography#Heads|cere]] and facial skin are yellow (red when displaying). The feet and legs are yellow.<br />
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The upperparts, head and neck are grey. There are large black spots on the wing [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]]. The face is bright yellow, and the belly is finely barred with black and white. The tail is longish and is white, with a single white bar across the middle and a narrow white tip. The head is quite small compared to other raptors, and in flight the wings are broad and rounded.  
 
== Distribution ==
 
== Distribution ==
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Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]: widespread from [[Senegal]] to central [[Ethiopia]] and south to the Cape ([[South Africa]]). Absent only from the most arid areas of the Horn of Africa and the south-west. Resident, possibly nomadic in some areas and fairly common in much of its range.
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Sub-Saharan [[Africa]]: widespread from [[Senegal]] to central [[Ethiopia]] and south to the Cape ([[South Africa]]).
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Absent only from the most arid areas of the Horn of Africa and the south-west.
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Resident, possibly [[Dictionary_M-O#N|nomadic]] in some areas and fairly common in much of its range.
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==Taxonomy==
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====Subspecies====
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[[Image:African harrier-hawk1.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Adult, Nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|volker+sthamer|Volker Sthamer }}<br />Yabello, [[Ethiopia]], 20 November 2012]]
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Two<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> to three subspecies are recognised:
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*''P. t. pectoralis'': smaller, darker and more heavily barred than the nominate subspecies
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:*[[Senegambia]] to western [[Sudan]], [[Niger]] and [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]]
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*''P. t. typus'':
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:*Eastern [[Sudan]] to [[Eritrea]], [[Angola]] and [[South Africa]]
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Subspecies ''prigoginei'' (smaller and darker birds from western [[DRC]]) is not generally recognised.  
 
== Habitat ==
 
== Habitat ==
 
It is found in closed and open savanna woodlands, forests, near wooded kloofs or stands of alien trees. It is usually solitary and spends much time perched in tall trees and is usually seen flying over or near forests or well-wooded areas.
 
It is found in closed and open savanna woodlands, forests, near wooded kloofs or stands of alien trees. It is usually solitary and spends much time perched in tall trees and is usually seen flying over or near forests or well-wooded areas.
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== Foraging & Food ==
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==Behaviour==
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The African Harrier Hawk is specially adapted to extracting food from holes and crevices in trees. The tarsal joint "knee" can bend backwards, sideways or forwards - allowing the bird to use its long legs/feet to get into tree cavities where it preys on bats, nestlings, reptiles and amphibians. It also eats insects and birds eggs.
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====Diet====
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== Breeding ==
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They are specially adapted for extracting food from holes and crevices in trees. The tarsal joint "knee" can bend backwards, sideways or forwards - allowing the bird to use its long legs/feet to get into tree cavities where it preys on bats, nestlings, reptiles and amphibians. It also eats insects and birds eggs.
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The African Harrier Hawk nests from June to November. The nest is a stick platform, about 75cm in diameter which is placed in the canopy of a tree or on a bush on a cliff face or in a small rock niche. The nest is lined with green sprigs.
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====Breeding====
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== Bird Call ==
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They breed from June to November. The nest is a stick platform, about 75cm in diameter which is placed in the canopy of a tree or on a bush on a cliff face or in a small rock niche. The nest is lined with green sprigs.
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====Vocalisation====
 
The call is a plaintive whistled ''su-eeee-oo'' or a high pitched ''wheep-wheep'' near the nest.
 
The call is a plaintive whistled ''su-eeee-oo'' or a high pitched ''wheep-wheep'' near the nest.
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==Gallery==
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Click on photo for larger image
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<gallery>
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Image:29534Gymnogene Sub-Adult - KNP Feb 2006.JPG|Sub-adult<br />Photo by {{user|GarethH|GarethH}}<br />[[Kruger National Park]], [[South Africa]], February 2006
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Image:African Harrier-hawk2.JPG|Photo by {{user|marin|marin}}<br />Kivumu, [[Rwanda]], 14 August 2013
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</gallery>
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug21}}#Kemp, A. C. and J. S. Marks (2020). African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.afhhaw1.01
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Polyboroides+typus}}
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{{GSearch|"Polyboroides typus" {{!}} "African Harrier-Hawk"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Polyboroides]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Polyboroides]]

Latest revision as of 13:54, 26 June 2023

Adult
Photo by Steve G
Near Lake Zwai, Ethiopia, March 2005

Alternative name: Gymnogene

Polyboroides typus

Identification

Immature
Photo by David_H_UK
Kruger National Park South Africa, October 2008

51–68 cm (20-26¾ in)
As with other birds of prey, the bill is short with a sharp, hooked tip to the upper mandible. The bill is black, and the cere and facial skin are yellow (red when displaying). The feet and legs are yellow.
The upperparts, head and neck are grey. There are large black spots on the wing coverts. The face is bright yellow, and the belly is finely barred with black and white. The tail is longish and is white, with a single white bar across the middle and a narrow white tip. The head is quite small compared to other raptors, and in flight the wings are broad and rounded.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa: widespread from Senegal to central Ethiopia and south to the Cape (South Africa).

Absent only from the most arid areas of the Horn of Africa and the south-west.

Resident, possibly nomadic in some areas and fairly common in much of its range.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Adult, Nominate subspecies
Photo © by Volker Sthamer
Yabello, Ethiopia, 20 November 2012

Two[1] to three subspecies are recognised:

  • P. t. pectoralis: smaller, darker and more heavily barred than the nominate subspecies
  • P. t. typus:

Subspecies prigoginei (smaller and darker birds from western DRC) is not generally recognised.

Habitat

It is found in closed and open savanna woodlands, forests, near wooded kloofs or stands of alien trees. It is usually solitary and spends much time perched in tall trees and is usually seen flying over or near forests or well-wooded areas.

Behaviour

Diet

They are specially adapted for extracting food from holes and crevices in trees. The tarsal joint "knee" can bend backwards, sideways or forwards - allowing the bird to use its long legs/feet to get into tree cavities where it preys on bats, nestlings, reptiles and amphibians. It also eats insects and birds eggs.

Breeding

They breed from June to November. The nest is a stick platform, about 75cm in diameter which is placed in the canopy of a tree or on a bush on a cliff face or in a small rock niche. The nest is lined with green sprigs.

Vocalisation

The call is a plaintive whistled su-eeee-oo or a high pitched wheep-wheep near the nest.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Kemp, A. C. and J. S. Marks (2020). African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.afhhaw1.01

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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