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African Harrier-Hawk
Afrikaans name: Kaalwangvalk
African Harrier Hawk
Photo © Steven Herbert
Polyboroides typus
The African Harrier-Hawk, as it is now called, is more commonly called the Gymnogene. Adult birds have grey plumage while juveniles are brown.
This raptor is found in woodland as well as suburban areas.
The African Harrier-Hawk spends its days clambering around in trees where it investigates holes looking for birds and chicks in nests. The legs of the African Harrier-Hawk are double-jointed which gives it the ability to feel round in all directions inside a hole.
Besides stealing birds from nests it will catch small mammals and it also eats the fruit of the Oil Palm.
The African Harrier-Hawk lays up to 3 eggs.
References and further reading
A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 136An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Year Published: 1974 - Page: 40
An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Year Published: 1974 - Page: 110
Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 68
Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 201
Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Year Published: 1992 - Page: 22
Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Year Published: - Page: 63
Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 14
Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 372
Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 52
Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 184
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 152
Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 148
Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 122
The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 91
Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 56