The African harrier-hawk, harrier hawk or gymnogene is a bird of prey. It is about 60–66 centimetres (24–26 in) in length. It breeds in most of Africa south of the Sahara. The only other member of the genus is the allopatric Madagascar harrier-hawk.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs widely across sub-Saharan Africa in woodlands, forest edges, riparian belts, savannas, and urban parks and gardens. It favors areas with large trees, palms, or cliffs that offer cavities and nest sites. The species tolerates fragmented habitats and agricultural mosaics, including plantations. Nests are typically placed high in trees, and it forages from canopy to ground level. Local movements follow food availability and breeding opportunities.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the gymnogene, it is famed for its double-jointed legs that let it reach deep into crevices and nest holes to extract prey. The bare facial skin can flush from yellow to reddish when excited. It adapts well to human-altered landscapes and is sometimes seen hunting around villages and plantations.
Adult hunting at a weaver colony in Etosha National Park, Namibia
Temperament
solitary and methodical
Flight Pattern
slow deep wingbeats with frequent gliding and soaring
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, especially during breeding. Pairs build large stick nests high in tall trees; the clutch is typically 1–2 eggs. Both sexes share incubation and provisioning, and display flights with calling occur around the territory.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives mellow, whistled and mewing calls, often during display flights. Calls carry over forest edges and woodlands and may intensify near the nest.
Plumage
Mostly pale grey with fine barring on the underparts, darker flight feathers, and a black tail crossed by a bold white band. Underwings show contrasting pale panels. Juveniles are brown with streaked underparts.
Diet
An opportunistic predator that raids nests for eggs and nestlings and takes small birds, bats, rodents, lizards, and amphibians. It also consumes insects and other invertebrates gleaned from bark and cavities. Remarkably, it regularly includes fruits such as oil palm and other soft fruits in its diet. Its double-jointed legs allow it to hang and probe deep into crevices and weaver nests.
Preferred Environment
Forages along trunks, branches, and tree cavities in woodlands, riverine forests, and palm groves. It also hunts around villages, gardens, and plantations where cavities and nests are abundant. Often seen methodically inspecting holes and hanging acrobatically beneath branches.
