African Harrier Hawk

Common resident. A large grey hawk with black flight feathers and black tail with a bold white central band, bare yellow face (flushes pink-red when excited) and long, flexible yellow legs. In flight appears broad-winged. White tail-band diagnostic; sometimes has dark carpal patches on the upper wings. Immature initially dark brown, later light brown and more mottled with shaggy neck feathers. Long bare yellow legs distinguish it from other brown eagles in flight cf. [European Honey buzzard] . Naked face initially greyish developing to yellow. Ecology: In flight may utter a high-pitched whistle ‘su-eeee- oo’, especially near its nest or when excited; otherwise silent. Omnivorous known to eat palm fruit. Clambers about trees and rocks, inserting its long flexible jointed legs into cavities in search of bats, mammals, lizards and other small creatures, and raids weaver, swift and woodpecker nests, dangling upside down while raiding and eating the nestlings. Occurs in a wide range of habitats from montane forests and plantations to woodland, bushveld or thornveld at lower levels, especially riparian forests and wooded valleys. Becoming more common in well-wooded suburbs. Nests are a large structure of well lined sticks in a tree or rock ledge. Laying 1-3 eggs with only one surviving due to siblicide. 500-950 g.