Black Goshawk
Encyclopedia
The Black Sparrowhawk sometimes known as the Black Goshawk or Great Sparrowhawk, is the largest African member of the genus Accipiter
. Downloaded on 06 October 2011.. It occurs mainly in forests and non-desert areas south of the Sahara
, particularly where there are large trees suitable for nesting; favoured habitat includes suburban and human-altered landscapes. It preys primarily on birds of moderate size, such as pigeons and doves in suburban areas .
is predominantly black, but with a white chest and throat . Some individuals may have a tendency towards melanism
, showing white only on the throat and spots on the belly. As a rule there is no noticeable difference between the plumage of mature females and males. The tails are cross-barred with about three or four paler stripes, and the undersides of the wings with perhaps four or five, but these are less well-defined.
Young chicks have black eyes and white down, but when the feathers erupt they are predominantly brown. The full plumage of juveniles is a range of browns and russets with dark streaks along the head and, more conspicuously, down the chest. Commonly there are white or light-coloured spots and streaks as well, mainly on the wings. The brown plumage being a sign of immaturity, it does not attract as dangerously aggressively territorial behaviour as the mature black-and-white would. As the young birds mature, their eyes change in colour from deep black, though brown, to red .
As is common in the genus Accipiter
, male Black Sparrowhawks are smaller than females; typically the weights of males lie between 450g and 650g as compared to females, which have weights in the range 750g to 980g.. The typical head-body length is 46 — 58 cm. The ceres
and legs are yellow.
The wingspans are modest for such a large raptor, typically not more than 1 metre; this probably reflects their arboreal habitat, though they also hunt very efficiently in open areas. The beaks and talons are typical of the genus Accipiter, and of raptors in general, being used both in capturing prey and in feeding.
family along with other well‐known members such as hawks and eagles, all of which are part of the Falconiformes
order .
to one pair per 38-150 square kilometers in South Africa
.
Both subspecies are only found in parts of Africa that are south of the Sahara desert; A. m. temminckii inhabit much of the northwest section such as Senegal
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, and Central African Republic
, while A. m. melanoleucus can be found starting from the northeast section down to South Africa
. They mainly inhabit forest patches and favour large trees, including the non-indigenous
eucalypt
, poplar
, and pine
, all of which are grown commercially and are able to grow up to 15 m taller than native trees . Their adaptability to secondary forests and cultivations is one of the reasons why they are not as greatly impacted by deforestation as many African forest birds.
In some areas such as Cape Peninsula
, the sparrowhawks face habitat competition with Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca), an aggressive species known to steal the nests of the sparrowhawks . This results in a costly loss for the sparrowhawks after the time and energy spent building the nest and may also lead to the death of current offspring . However, sparrowhawks are known to have more than 1 nest at a time, so in the event that one is usurped by an Egyptian goose
, the pair would either inhabit the alternative nest and/or build a new one .
by taking advantage of the increase in dove and pigeon populations . They may also feed on poultry found in nearby villages , which have been inadvertently made available to them by humans. Larger individuals may also take on prey as big as a guineafowl
. The sparrowhawks often stalk their unsuspecting prey from above while remaining hidden in the trees before swooping down to capture the prey item . Can carry prey up to 12 km, usually well above the canopy .
The nests are made up of thousands of sticks collected by both parents and are usually lined with green eucalypt leaves, possibly to prevent pieces of meat from falling between the gaps and to deter carriers of diseases, such as mites
and insects, due to the repelling smell of the leaves
Black Sparrowhawks form monogamous pairs and are known to attempt multiple brooding; at any one time, a mated pair has more than one nest with offspring of different ages . Typically a pair will lay 2-4 eggs and incubate
them for about 37-38 days until they hatch . The newly hatched chicks are semi-altricial
in that they are fully covered in white down feathers but cannot leave the nest since they rely on the parents for food, warmth, and protection . After 40 to 47 days, the juveniles are fledged but the parents will continue to care for them for the next 37 to 47 days . The female usually lays a new clutch of eggs in her second nest about 60 to 90 days after her first clutch has fledged; both parents will then care for both nests . Nests are often reused after the juveniles have left .
Accipiter
The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, many of which are named as goshawks and sparrowhawks. They can be anatomically distinguished from their relatives by the lack of a procoracoid foramen. Two small and aberrant species usually placed here do possess a large...
. Downloaded on 06 October 2011.. It occurs mainly in forests and non-desert areas south of the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
, particularly where there are large trees suitable for nesting; favoured habitat includes suburban and human-altered landscapes. It preys primarily on birds of moderate size, such as pigeons and doves in suburban areas .
Description
Typically, both genders of the black sparrowhawk are pied black-and-white when mature; generally the plumagePlumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
is predominantly black, but with a white chest and throat . Some individuals may have a tendency towards melanism
Melanism
Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
, showing white only on the throat and spots on the belly. As a rule there is no noticeable difference between the plumage of mature females and males. The tails are cross-barred with about three or four paler stripes, and the undersides of the wings with perhaps four or five, but these are less well-defined.
Young chicks have black eyes and white down, but when the feathers erupt they are predominantly brown. The full plumage of juveniles is a range of browns and russets with dark streaks along the head and, more conspicuously, down the chest. Commonly there are white or light-coloured spots and streaks as well, mainly on the wings. The brown plumage being a sign of immaturity, it does not attract as dangerously aggressively territorial behaviour as the mature black-and-white would. As the young birds mature, their eyes change in colour from deep black, though brown, to red .
As is common in the genus Accipiter
Accipiter
The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, many of which are named as goshawks and sparrowhawks. They can be anatomically distinguished from their relatives by the lack of a procoracoid foramen. Two small and aberrant species usually placed here do possess a large...
, male Black Sparrowhawks are smaller than females; typically the weights of males lie between 450g and 650g as compared to females, which have weights in the range 750g to 980g.. The typical head-body length is 46 — 58 cm. The ceres
CERES
CERES may refer to:* California Environmental Resources Evaluation System * Centre for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies of the University of Toronto...
and legs are yellow.
The wingspans are modest for such a large raptor, typically not more than 1 metre; this probably reflects their arboreal habitat, though they also hunt very efficiently in open areas. The beaks and talons are typical of the genus Accipiter, and of raptors in general, being used both in capturing prey and in feeding.
Taxonomy
There are 2 subspecies of the Black Sparrowhawks: Accipiter melanoleucus melanoleucus, which was named by A. Smith in 1830, and Accipiter melanoleucus temminckii, which was named by Hartlaub in 1855 . As described in the next section, the 2 subspecies occur in different regions of Africa and both belong to the genus Accipiter in the AccipitridaeAccipitridae
The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...
family along with other well‐known members such as hawks and eagles, all of which are part of the Falconiformes
Falconiformes
The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that comprises the diurnal birds of prey. Raptor classification is difficult and the order is treated in several ways.- Classification problems :...
order .
Habitat and Distribution
Black Sparrowhawks are relatively widespread and common in sub-Saharan Africa and listed as not globally threatened by CITES. Densities range from one pair per 13 square kilometers in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
to one pair per 38-150 square kilometers in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Both subspecies are only found in parts of Africa that are south of the Sahara desert; A. m. temminckii inhabit much of the northwest section such as Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, and Central African Republic
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
, while A. m. melanoleucus can be found starting from the northeast section down to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. They mainly inhabit forest patches and favour large trees, including the non-indigenous
Indigenous
Indigenous means: belonging to a certain place.Indigenous may refer to:In Ecology and Geography*Indigenous resources, resources which exist within local geography, that are not imported...
eucalypt
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
, poplar
Poplar
Populus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar , aspen, and cottonwood....
, and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, all of which are grown commercially and are able to grow up to 15 m taller than native trees . Their adaptability to secondary forests and cultivations is one of the reasons why they are not as greatly impacted by deforestation as many African forest birds.
In some areas such as Cape Peninsula
Cape Peninsula
The Cape Peninsula is a generally rocky peninsula that juts out for 75 km into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope...
, the sparrowhawks face habitat competition with Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiaca), an aggressive species known to steal the nests of the sparrowhawks . This results in a costly loss for the sparrowhawks after the time and energy spent building the nest and may also lead to the death of current offspring . However, sparrowhawks are known to have more than 1 nest at a time, so in the event that one is usurped by an Egyptian goose
Egyptian Goose
The Egyptian Goose is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, and is the only extant member of the genus Alopochen...
, the pair would either inhabit the alternative nest and/or build a new one .
Behaviour
Black Sparrowhawks chase mid-sized birds through relatively open areas in Africa. They are not as nimble as smaller Accipiters, but their speed and short, broad wings facilitate the chase of birds well inside the forest.Vocalizations
Normally silent except during the breeding season. Males are known to make loud “keeyp” sounds while females make short “kek” sounds .Diet
Black Sparrowhawks prey primarily on birds in the size range of 80-300 g. They often take doves and pigeons that have flourished due to urban growth and settlement . It is one of the more fortunate species that have been able to adapt to their changing habitat due to afforestationAfforestation
Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area where there was no forest. Reforestation is the reestablishment of forest cover, either naturally or artificially...
by taking advantage of the increase in dove and pigeon populations . They may also feed on poultry found in nearby villages , which have been inadvertently made available to them by humans. Larger individuals may also take on prey as big as a guineafowl
Guineafowl
The guineafowl are a family of birds in the Galliformes order, although some authorities include the guineafowl as a subfamily, Numidinae, of the family Phasianidae...
. The sparrowhawks often stalk their unsuspecting prey from above while remaining hidden in the trees before swooping down to capture the prey item . Can carry prey up to 12 km, usually well above the canopy .
Reproduction
A. m. temminckii usually breed between August and November while A. m. melanoleucus breed between May and October . These birds are particular about their nest sites; they prefer sites within the tree canopy to protect their offspring from adverse weather conditions and other predators . However, the nests are usually not deep within the forest in order to stay within close proximity of the hunting habitat outside of the forest .The nests are made up of thousands of sticks collected by both parents and are usually lined with green eucalypt leaves, possibly to prevent pieces of meat from falling between the gaps and to deter carriers of diseases, such as mites
MITES
MITES, or Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science, is a highly selective six-week summer program for rising high school seniors held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its purpose is to expose students from minority, or otherwise disadvantaged backgrounds, to the fields of...
and insects, due to the repelling smell of the leaves
Black Sparrowhawks form monogamous pairs and are known to attempt multiple brooding; at any one time, a mated pair has more than one nest with offspring of different ages . Typically a pair will lay 2-4 eggs and incubate
Avian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
them for about 37-38 days until they hatch . The newly hatched chicks are semi-altricial
Altricial
Altricial, meaning "requiring nourishment", refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or being born...
in that they are fully covered in white down feathers but cannot leave the nest since they rely on the parents for food, warmth, and protection . After 40 to 47 days, the juveniles are fledged but the parents will continue to care for them for the next 37 to 47 days . The female usually lays a new clutch of eggs in her second nest about 60 to 90 days after her first clutch has fledged; both parents will then care for both nests . Nests are often reused after the juveniles have left .