Ayres's hawk-eagle
| Ayres' hawk-eagle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Hieraaetus |
| Species: | H. ayresii |
| Binomial name | |
| Hieraaetus ayresii Gurney, 1862 | |
 | |
| Ayres's hawk-eagle Range | |
Ayres's hawk-eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii), also referred to as Ayres' eagle,[2] is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is native to African woodlands. Its name honors South African ornithologist Thomas Ayres.[3]
Description and Behavior
This relatively small eagle has a total length of 46 to 55 cm (18 to 22 in).[2] It usually weighs 685 to 1,045 g (1 lb 8.2 oz to 2 lb 4.9 oz); but may exceed 1,262 g (2 lb 12.5 oz). The female is larger and heavier than the male.[4] In one study, the wingspan of two individuals averaged 124 cm (49 in).[5] Ayres's hawk-eagle has a long, barred tail and relatively narrow wings. The adult plumage is predominantly black/brown, with heavily streaked white underparts; in some individuals, the underparts are much paler. Adults typically have a pronounced white shoulder where the leading edge of the wing meets the body (the carpal joint). The immature is drab and paler.
The Ayres's hawk-eagle hunts small mammals like rabbits and mice.
Distribution and Habitat
Ayres' eagle is an uncommon resident of non-arid Sub-Saharan Africa, and a non-breeding summer migrant to the far south of its range (South Africa; southern Zimbabwe, Mozambique).[2][6] It appears to prefer dense woodland and forest edges.[4]
Although an uncommon bird throughout its range, it is classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN, due to its large range and its numbers - while small - appearing stable at the present time.
Media
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Hieraaetus ayresii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 3 Newman, K (1998) Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Halfway House: Southern Book Publishers. ISBN 1868127680.
- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 33.
- 1 2 Sinclair, I & Davidson, I (1995) Southern African Birds: A Photographic Guide. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. ISBN 1868257851
- ↑ Mendelsohn J.M.; Kemp, A.C.; Biggs, H.C.; Biggs, R.; &Brown, C.J. (1989) Wing Areas, Wing Loadings and Wing Spans of 66 Species of African Raptors, Ostrich, Vol. 60, No.1, p. 35-60
- ↑ Allan, D. 1996. A Photographic Guide to Birds of Prey of Southern, Central and East Africa. Cape Town: New Holland Publishers. ISBN 1853689033.
External links
- (Ayres's hawk-eagle = ) Ayres' eagle - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hieraaetus ayresii. |
 |
Wikispecies has information related to: Hieraaetus ayresii |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||