Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

The Ayres's hawk-eagle, named in honor of South African ornithologist Thomas Ayres, is a medium-sized bird of prey with a striking bicolored appearance. The adult male boasts blackish upperparts with white mottling, a white forehead, and a supercilium. Its tail is ashy grey with a black tip and dark bars. The underparts are predominantly white, adorned with dark brown spots and blotches. This species is noted for its small but sometimes pronounced crest. Females are generally darker and more heavily spotted than males, with less white on the forehead and supercilium. A melanistic phase also exists, presenting mostly black plumage with white markings.

Identification Tips

Males are smaller than females and exhibit strong sexual dimorphism. The average weight of males is around 662.5 grams, while females average at 1,017.5 grams. The wingspan ranges from 106 to 137 cm, with a total length of 44 to 57 cm. The species can be distinguished from similar raptors by its unique plumage, size, and the absence of a grey patch under the flight feathers.

Habitat

The Ayres's hawk-eagle favors mature woodlands, often in rocky terrain, and is not typically found in dense forests. It can adapt to various wooded habitats, including Brachystegia and Baikiaea woodlands, and occasionally Acacia plantations and riparian zones.

Distribution

This raptor has a patchy sub-Saharan distribution, from Sierra Leone to Somalia, and south to northern Namibia and northeast South Africa. It exhibits seasonal movements, venturing into more open savanna habitats during the rainy season.

Behaviour

The Ayres's hawk-eagle is a skilled bird hunter, soaring high to locate prey before executing a stoop to capture birds in mid-air. It is agile and fast, capable of overtaking many birds during flight. This eagle is monogamous and territorial, nesting solitarily in large trees.

Breeding

Nests are large platforms of twigs and sticks, lined with green leaves, and concealed in tree forks. Breeding season peaks in April and May, with a single egg laid per clutch. Incubation is primarily the female's responsibility, lasting about 43 days, with the male providing food. Chicks fledge at approximately 73 days old.

Diet and Feeding

Ayres's hawk-eagle predominantly preys on small birds, especially doves and pigeons, but can also take larger birds and occasionally small mammals like bush squirrels and fruit bats.

Conservation status

Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, the Ayres's hawk-eagle is uncommon but stable, with an estimated global population of 1,000 to 10,000 individuals. The main threats include habitat loss and persecution for hunting domestic pigeons.