RAPTORS of Africa
Raptors are carnivorous. They hunt by sight during the day, are long lived, and have low reproductive rates. The catch their prey via strong claws – three pointing forward and one pointing backward.
The raptors that hunt by day are: hawks, eagle, buzzards, harriers, kites, vultures, falcons, caracaras. Owls hunt by night. Raptors are also called birds of prey.
Hawks
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae
The order Accipitriformes contains the diurnal (active during the day) birds of prey: hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, vultures, ospreys, secretary birds. These birds have sometimes been considered part of the Falconiformes which contains the falcons, but DNA evidence indicates the orders should be separate.
The Accipitridae family contains the hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, Old World vultures. Subfamilies are often used to group related species, but the subfamiles for much of Accipitridae are in flux. They will be used here if there is agreement for their members.
This page contains species that are termed hawks or buzzards.
Genus Butastur
Buzzard, White-eyed Butastur teesa Found: south Asia
Photographed by: J M Garg
Genus Buteo
Buzzard, Augur Buteo augur Found: Africa
The Augur Buzzard Buteo is also considered as Buteo rufofuscus augur, a subspecies of the Jackal Buzzard.
5) Charlie Westerinen - South Africa
Buzzard, Jackal Buteo rufofuscus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encounters aviary in South Africa
3) Dick near De Hoop, South Africa 6) Sandy Cole near Tenikwa Cats, South Africa
Buzzard, Long-legged Buteo rufinus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: A. Jo
Genus Macheiramphus - 1 species
Hawk, Bat Macheiramphus alcinus Found: Africa, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Johan van Rensburg 2) Gary Albert
Genus Accipiter
See also Genus Melierax for more Goshawks.
Goshawk, African Accipiter tachiro Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encounters, South Africa 2) Dick - World , South Africa
Shikra Accipiter badius Found: Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Thoi Gujarat 2) Ravi Vaidyanathan
Sparrowhawk, Eurasian aka Northern Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Thoi Gujarat 2) Ravi Vaidyanathan
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Chanting Goshawks
These long-tailed hawks are found in Africa
Genus Melierax
Goshawk, Dark Chanting Melierax metabates Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Arno Meintjes 4) Nevit Dilmen - Tanzania 5) Frank Vassen - Namibia
6) I Love Trees at Kapama Game Reserve, South Africa
Goshawk, Eastern Chanting Melierax poliopterus Found: East Africa
Photograhped by 1) Lip Kee Yap 2) Christiaan Kooyman
Goshawk, Pale Chanting aka Southern Pale Chanting ç Melierax canorus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Alastair Rae 2) Francesco Veronesi 3) David Berliner - Tanqua Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa
Goshawk, Gabar Melierax gabar Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Neil Strickland
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Harriers and Harrier Hawks
Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. Most harriers are placed in the genus Circus, the scientific name arising from the circling movements female and male make when courting.
Genus Circus
Harrier, Western Marsh Circus aeruginosus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Ferran Pestana 2) Artur Mikolajewski - Lasy Janowskie, Poland
Genus Polyboroides
Hawk, African Harrier aka Harrier Hawk aka Gymnogene Polyboroides typus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - northeast Botswana1 2) Dick Daniels - World of Birds, South Africa
3, 4) Arno Meintjes
All images on this website are protected by copyright (owned by the photographer).
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.
Please contact Dick Daniels to determine whether specific photos can be copied.