The Madagascar harrier-hawk is a medium-sized species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, endemic to Madagascar.
Region
Madagascar
Typical Environment
Found island-wide in a wide range of wooded habitats, including humid evergreen rainforest, dry deciduous forest, spiny thicket, mangroves, and agroforestry mosaics. Prefers edges, riverine corridors, and clearings where it can soar and hunt along tree lines. Frequently uses tall trees for nesting and vantage points. It tolerates disturbed areas and can occur near settlements and plantations.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Madagascar harrier-hawk has unusually flexible, double-jointed legs that let it reach deep into crevices and nests to extract prey. It often hangs acrobatically beneath branches or palm fronds while foraging. Despite being a raptor of forests, it adapts well to human-modified landscapes and can be seen around plantations and villages.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
soaring glider with slow, buoyant wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually observed singly or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Builds a stick nest high in a tree; both sexes participate in nesting duties. Clutch is typically one to two eggs, and the pair defends the territory around the nest.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Voice includes clear, whistled and mewing notes, often given in flight or near the nest. Calls can be repeated in series during territorial displays and courtship.
Plumage
Adult shows smooth grey upperparts with finely barred black-and-white underparts and darker flight feathers; tail with a bold dark subterminal band. Underwings show contrasting pattern when soaring. Bare facial skin is yellow and can flush.
Diet
An opportunistic predator taking nestling birds, eggs, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, and large insects. It is renowned for extracting prey from cavities and weaver-like nests using its highly flexible legs. It also gleans along trunks and fronds and may probe crevices in deadwood and palm crowns.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, riparian strips, and in mixed farmland–woodland mosaics. Often hunts from perches, then moves tree to tree, inspecting cavities and nests.
