Pale Chanting Goshawk

Common, near-endemic resident. Large, pale-grey goshawk with coral-pink cere and legs. Difficult to tell from [Dark Chanting Goshawk] when perched, except for slightly paler upper parts, but in flight shows much white on the inner upper wings and clear white rump diagnostic.. Primary wingtips show more extensive black than [Dark Chanting Goshawk]. Immature of this and [Dark Chanting Goshawk] very similar with yellow eye, cere and legs with overall brown wash and brown barring on under feathers, also shows white rump. In breeding season, adults call loudly and melodiously while perched, especially at dawn ‘kleeeeuw, kleeeeuw, kleeeeuw, klu-klu-klu-klu’, giving the name ‘chanting’. Perches conspicuously with upright stance on the top of a thornbush or on a roadside post. Also forages on the ground in search of small prey, peering under rocks and logs. Seldom flies high; usually moves with low swoops from perch to perch. Occurs in arid thornveld, Karoo and Kalahari sandveld. South of the Limpopo River its range is mostly west of [Dark Chanting Goshawk]. Feeds on lizards, small mammals, game birds, insects and carrion. 500g – 1,3 kg.