Dark Chanting Goshawk

This hawk breeds in sub-Saharan Africa, but avoids the rain forests of the Congo basin. There is a small and declining isolated population in Morocco, and it also occurs in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The Dark Chanting Goshawk is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. The Accipitridae also include many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. This hawk breeds in sub-Saharan Africa, but avoids the rain forests of the Congo basin. There is a small and declining isolated population in Morocco, and it also occurs in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It is a resident species of tropical and subtropical savannah. More

indistinguishable from some juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawks except for the less barred undertail coverts and rump. Also, the legs are slightly longer at all ages than the Dark Chanting Goshawk's. Behavior - The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is usually seen alone. It often perches on the tops of trees and utility poles. Its wingbeats are shallow and "straight-arm". It holds its wings flat, or sometimes in a V, when it glides. More

The dark chanting goshawk is a bulky hawk, often seen in full view, perched upright on long, orange-red legs (4) (5). The head, chest and upperparts are essentially dark grey, while the abdomen, thighs and rump are all finely barred with black over white (4). The wing primaries are black, and the tail is broadly barred black and white (2) (4). Like the legs, the bare patch of skin at the base of the bill, called the cere, is orange-red. More

Dark Chanting Goshawk is a large long-tailed broad-winged hawk, with a 105cm wingspan. It is slate-grey above and white with fine barring below. The tail is black and white. In flight, the wings are grey with black tips. The flight is stiff and mechanical. More

Distribution of Dark chanting goshawk in southern Africa, based on statistical smoothing of the records from first SA Bird Atlas Project (© Animal Demography unit, University of Cape Town; smoothing by Birgit Erni and Francesca Little). Colours range from dark blue (most common) through to yellow (least common). See here for the latest distribution from the SABAP2. Movements and migrations Largely resident and sedentary, although it may be partially nomadic in the dry season. More

For the purposes of our bird news services, Dark Chanting Goshawk is classed as ungraded: species which are unlikely to appear as wild birds in Britain or Ireland (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance. More

The Dark Chanting Goshawk is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Accipitridae bird family group which includes birds such as Raptors, Old Vultures, Osprey. The description for the Dark Chanting Goshawk (Latin name Melierax metabates) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Melierax metabates can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 163 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 508. More

Juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawk(?) with a big gap in one of its wings These pages are best viewed with firefox (for a few more details, click here). Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome; we give no guarantee that the information on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. If you should like to reproduce any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us by email. Last updated: 8 May 2010. More

angle view of a Dark Chanting Goshawk perched on a tree, Kenya5712269Add Image to LightboxAdd Photo to CartRoyalty Free ImageCalculate Image Price1701R-31528northern goshawk, Idaho5354931Add Image to LightboxAdd Photo to CartRights Managed ImageCalculate Image Price4039-19406Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis2558601Add Image to LightboxAdd Photo to CartRights Managed ImageCalculate Image Price1760-6591Colorado, Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), first year male. More