Madagascar Harrier-Hawk
Polyboroides radiatus
Large gray raptor with black wings and tail. There is a single white band through the tail and bare skin around the face that is normally yellow but which can flush bright red. Immature is brown, with a pale head and pale fringes on the wing that separate it from all other brown raptors in its range. Endemic to Madagascar, and found in a variety of habitats, including forest, scrub, and savannah. Absent from pure grassland and from the high mountains. Often soars. Call is a long, high whistle, often given in flight.
Identification
The Madagascar harrier-hawk is a largish raptor with long and broad wings which when folded almost reach to the tip of the tail. It has a black tail with a single broad grey band bisecting the black half way along its length, Adult birds are grey above with blackish flight feathers. The underparts are white with dense dark barring on the breast, belly and underwing coverts while the upper breast and throat are the same colour as the upperparts and form a grey hood, broken by the yellow face. The bill is yellow with a black tip and the legs are yellow.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Polyboroides radiatus
- Authority
- (Scopoli, 1786)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Polyboroides
Range and habitat
The Madagascar harrier-hawk is quite widespread and common, albeit in small numbers, in most regions of Madagascar but it is scarce on the deforested central plateau. It can be found from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) altitude. The Madagascar harrier-hawk occurs in a variety of habitats but seems to favour undisturbed lowland rainforest. It has also been recorded from montane rainforest, spiny desert scrub, degraded forests and other wooded habitats, including plantations of exotic trees.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustris
Small, spunky wren with boldly patterned plumage. Look for dark cap, bright white eyebrow, and black-and-white stripes on back. Compared with similar Sedge Wren, Marsh is overall darker and more contrasty; especially note the solid brown shoulder patch and unstreaked crown. Habitat is also a good clue for identifying this wren: rarely strays far from water, especially extensive cattail marshes and rushes. Migrants are occasionally seen in wet weedy fields. Often difficult to see well as it skulks through reeds, but often perches conspicuously when singing. Variable song usually a gurgling trill with some introductory notes.
Eastern Parotia
Parotia helenae
A fairly large, short-tailed bird of mid-montane forest canopy. Male is mainly black with a bronzy-scaled chest and 6 antennalike feathers projecting from the back of the head. Note the blue eyes. The female is warm-brown above with barred underparts and a black head. The male has an elaborate dance at a terrestrial display court. Females are similar to female lophorinas, but are larger and lack a pale eyebrow stripe. The vocalizations are poorly known, but likely include various rasps and parrotlike squawks.
Marañon Gnatcatcher
Polioptila maior
Tiny gray-and-white bird with long cocked tail and rather long slender bill. Fairly common in dry and semi-dry forest in the Marañón Valley; recently also discovered in dry valleys as far south as northern Lima. Often in pairs, traveling with mixed-species flocks. Male has a solid black cap, female has a bold white eyebrow. Generally the only gnatcatcher in range, but compared to White-browed Gnatcatcher, note the white forehead in female Marañon, and lack of white eyebrow in the male.
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