Madagascar harrier-hawk

Madagascar harrier-hawk
Polyboroides radiatus near Mahaboboka
Polyboroides radiatus in the Anjajavy Forest
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Polyboroides
Species: P. radiatus
Binomial name
Polyboroides radiatus
(Scopoli, 1786)

The Madagascar harrier-hawk (Polyboroides radiatus) is a very large species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.

It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

The population is believed to be stable and estimated between 1000 and 10,000, with the range spread over the whole of Madagascar.[2]

Description

Polyboroides radiatus has a large black and white striped tail, black and white barring on its underside, a grey back and long bare yellow legs. There is a bare pink or yellow skin patch around the eye, and bare white flesh around the mouth. The primaries, which are only visible with the wing outstretched, are striped white and light brown (see photo).

Gallery

References

  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Polyboroides radiatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. "'Polyboroides radiatus'". www.birdlife.org. BirdLife International. Retrieved 9 September 2014.