African harrier-hawk

Description

The hawk African serpentario ( Polyboroides typus A.Smith,1829 ) is a species of bird of the family of Accipitridae original of ' Sub-Saharan Africa.Raptor of quite large size (65 cm) but of relatively light constitution (500-950 g),the African Serpent Sparrowhawk has a characteristic small,pointed head,with a patch of naked yellow skin on the face which turns red when the bird is excited.On the top of the head there is a crest of feathers,which can be raised or lowered.The plumage is predominantly gray,with a clear series of white and black streaks on the abdomen and thighs,however absent in some individuals.The wings are long and rounded,with remiges with characteristic black ends,and the tail is black and relatively long,with a central band white or gray.Males and females have a similar appearance,although the female may be slightly larger than the male,while the young have brown plumage,facial glabrous skin of blackish color,brown tail with four darker stripes,and a variable amount of whitish bars or streaks,brown-reddish or dark on the abdomen.The species wears the typical plumage of adults only from the third year of age.Two subspecies of African Serpent Sparrowhawk are recognized: P.t.typus and P.t.pectoralis;the latter is smaller and darker,and has more striations on the lower regions.The African Serpent Sparrowhawk is a rather silent bird,but during the breeding season it emits a long and plaintive su-eeeeee-oo,as well as an acute hweep-hweek-hweep when it is near the nest.