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The Silver Pale Chanting Goshawk—more commonly known as the (Southern) Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus)—is a distinctive bird of prey native to the arid regions of southern Africa. Known for its silver-grey plumage, red legs, and melodic breeding calls, this raptor is a common sight perched on telephone poles along roadsides in dry areas.
Here are the key facts regarding the Pale Chanting Goshawk:
Appearance
Coloration: Adults have pale, silvery-grey upperparts, a white rump, and a finely barred grey-and-white belly.
Distinguishing Features: They have bright red legs, a red cere (skin above the bill), and red eyes.
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Flight Appearance: In flight, they show white secondary flight feathers, making them appear pale, with black primaries.
Size: They are roughly 55 cm long with a wingspan of about 110 cm. Females are larger and heavier than males.
Juveniles: Younger birds are brown above with white, barred tails and rufous-streaked underparts.
Habitat and Range
Location: Found in southern Africa, mainly in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and southwestern Angola.
Environment: Inhabits dry, open semi-deserts, arid savannas, and shrublands with less than 75 cm of annual rainfall.
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Behavior: They are largely sedentary (not migratory) and are often seen perched on roadside telephone poles, trees, or bushes to hunt.
Hunting and Diet
Opportunistic Diet: They eat small mammals (rodents, hares), lizards, snakes, small birds, insects, and carrion.
Perch and Drop: They scan from high spots and glide down to catch prey.
Walking: They are known to hunt on foot, running down prey.
Association: They often follow honey badgers and other small predators to catch animals (such as rats) flushed by them.
Tortoise Predators: They are one of the few predators that eat tortoises, swallowing small ones whole while the shell is still soft.
Breeding and Behavior
"Chanting": The name comes from their melodious, whistling call (kleeu-kleeu-kleeu-ku-ku-ku), which is mainly heard during the breeding season.
Reproduction: Nests are small, built from sticks in thorn trees, and often lined with debris like rags, wool, and dung.
Polyandry: While usually monogamous, in food-rich areas (like the Little Karoo), one female may breed with two males (polyandry).
Siblicide: Usually, two eggs are laid, but only one chick survives to fledge, often because the older chick kills the younger one (siblicide).
Helpers: Young birds from previous seasons sometimes remain in their natal territory to help raise new broods.
Conservation Status
The species is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
They are widespread and common, though they can be affected by pesticide use during locust outbreaks and occasionally drown in farm reservoirs.
