From Opus

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

Polyboroides typus

[edit] Identification

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.

[edit] Distribution

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

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.

[edit] Taxonomy

Two to three subspecies are recognised:

• Nominate in eastern and southern Africa
• 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.

[edit] 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.

Sub-adult
Photo by GarethH
Kruger National Park South Africa, February 2006

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

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.

[edit] Breeding

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.

[edit] Vocalisation

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

[edit] External Links