5-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - EAST AFRICAN HARRIER HAWK (Polyboroides typus ssp. typus)

                                          

The East African Harrier-hawk is an opportunistic raptor with a unique "double-jointed" leg structure that allows it to climb and probe for prey in crevices, unlike other hawks. It has a distinctive pale grey body, black and white tail, and a bare red or yellow facial patch. Its diet includes mammals, frogs, lizards, insects, and particularly eggs and nestlings raided from other birds' nests. 

Key facts

Physical characteristics:

Size: 51–68 cm (20–26.7 in) body length and a wingspan of 118–152 cm (46.5–59.8 in).

Plumage: Pale grey upper parts, white belly with dark barring, and a black tail with a single broad white band.

Face: A bare patch of skin around the eyes that is yellow or red.

Juveniles: Blotchy brown instead of grey.

Unique adaptations:

"Double-jointed" legs: A special intertarsal joint allows the legs to bend backward, enabling the bird to climb awkwardly on tree trunks and rock faces, and probe into tight spaces like nests.

Behavior and diet:

Diet: Opportunistic, including small mammals, frogs, lizards, insects, and even fish, fruit, and carrion. It is particularly known for raiding nests for eggs and nestlings.

Foraging: Unlike most raptors, it actively climbs on branches and tree trunks to find food, sometimes hanging upside down.

Vocalization: Makes a "wah... wah... wah" call, and a whistling sound in flight, according to Birds of the World and Kids encyclopedia facts.

Breeding:

Nest: Pairs build stick nests in trees or on cliffs.

Eggs: Females lay 1–3 eggs, and both parents incubate them for about 35 days.

Chicks: Siblings often compete fiercely, and older chicks may kill younger ones.

Habitat and distribution:

Habitat: Adaptable, found in a range of habitats including savannah woodlands, forest edges, rocky cliffs, and even urban gardens.

Distribution: Common across much of sub-Saharan Africa, from the tropical west to East and South Africa.

Conservation status:

Global: Listed as "least concern" (LC) by the IUCN Red List.

Regional variations: Some populations, especially in parts of West Africa, show declines due to habitat loss.