Polyboroides

(Redirected from Harrier Hawk)

Polyboroides is a genus of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. This genus has two recognized species found in Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. The two species are allopatric and restricted to the Afrotropical realm. They are generally known as harrier-hawks.

Polyboroides
African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Polyboroidinae
Genus: Polyboroides
A. Smith, 1829
Type species
Polyboroides typus[1]
A. Smith, 1829
Species

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Etymology

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Polyboroides: Genus Polyborus Vieillot, 1816; Greek: -οιδης -oidēs "resembling".[2]

Species

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The genus Polyboroides has two recognized species:[3][4]

Genus Polyboroides A. Smith, 1829 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
African harrier-hawk

 

Polyboroides typus
(Scopoli, 1786[5])

Two subspecies
  • P. t. typus - Smith, A, 1829
  • P. t. pectoralis - Sharpe, 1903
Sub-Saharan Africa Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
 LC 


Madagascar harrier-hawk

 

Polyboroides radiatus
Smith, 1829[6]
Madagascar Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
 LC 



 
Adult African harrier-hawk hunting at a weaver colony in Etosha NP.

Note the double-jointed legs enabling it to hang downwards and yet reach upwards with its beak.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Accipitridae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ^ Jobling, J.A. (2017). "Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
  3. ^ Clements, J. F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition. Cornell University Press. Downloadable from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  4. ^ "Polyboroides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  5. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Polyboroides typus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22695409A93508060. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695409A93508060.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  6. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Polyboroides radiatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22695415A93508513. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695415A93508513.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.