African Harrier Hawk, at Banham, Norfolk, in England.
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A fairly large but relatively lightweight bird of prey, the African Harrier Hawk has a distinctive small, pointed head, with a patch of naked yellow skin on the face which flushes red when the bird is excited. On the top of the head is a crest of feathers, which may be raised or lowered. The plumage is mainly grey, with neat black and white barring on the abdomen and thighs, though this is absent in some individuals. The wings are long and rounded, with distinct, broad black ends to the flight feathers, and the tail is black and relatively long, with a clear white or grey central band. Male and female African harrier-hawks are similar in appearance, though the female may be slightly larger than the male, while juveniles have brown plumage, blackish facial skin, a brown tail with four darker brown bars, and variable amounts of whitish, reddish-brown or dark bars or streaks on the abdomen. Adult plumage is not attained until about the third year). Two subspecies of African harrier-hawk are recognised: Polyboroides typus typus and Polyboroides typus pectoralis, the latter being smaller and darker, with more barring on the underparts. The African harrier-hawk is a fairly silent bird, but in the breeding season gives a long, plaintive su-eeeeee-oo call, as well as a highhweep-hweek-hweep near the nest.
African Harrier Hawk, at Banham, Norfolk, in England.
To view more of my images, of Carrion and Birds of Prey, please click "here" !
A fairly large but relatively lightweight bird of prey, the African Harrier Hawk has a distinctive small, pointed head, with a patch of naked yellow skin on the face which flushes red when the bird is excited. On the top of the head is a crest of feathers, which may be raised or lowered. The plumage is mainly grey, with neat black and white barring on the abdomen and thighs, though this is absent in some individuals. The wings are long and rounded, with distinct, broad black ends to the flight feathers, and the tail is black and relatively long, with a clear white or grey central band. Male and female African harrier-hawks are similar in appearance, though the female may be slightly larger than the male, while juveniles have brown plumage, blackish facial skin, a brown tail with four darker brown bars, and variable amounts of whitish, reddish-brown or dark bars or streaks on the abdomen. Adult plumage is not attained until about the third year). Two subspecies of African harrier-hawk are recognised: Polyboroides typus typus and Polyboroides typus pectoralis, the latter being smaller and darker, with more barring on the underparts. The African harrier-hawk is a fairly silent bird, but in the breeding season gives a long, plaintive su-eeeeee-oo call, as well as a highhweep-hweek-hweep near the nest.