Little Game Hunters: Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons

Bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus) at rest in Murchison Falls
National Park, Uganda

Everyone can enjoy eagles, hawks, and falcons, otherwise known as birds of prey. Everyone, that is, except the prey. Sorry rodents, snakes, lizards, and smaller birds, this post celebrates your air-borne stalkers.

A male bateleur eagle in flight over Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda

A Long-crested eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) rests atop a big termite
mound, about 5 km from where we live in Rwanda.

The same long-crested eagle showing off its feather-style (birds don't
have hair).

Long-crested eagle in flight over ASYV in Rwanda.

Many birds hunt, catching insects or other invertebrates, but birds of prey are generally big aerial hunters. Nearly all of them take bigger animals, like reptiles, other birds, small mammals, or fish. 

The Martial Eagle (Polematus bellicosus) is one of Africa's largest birds
of prey. This adult bird rests in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

Augur Buzzard, (Buteo augur), flying over Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village
in Rwanda

Bird of prey is a general phrase that can include several families of birds: Accipitridae (hawks, eagles, buzzurds, old world vultures), Falconidae (falcons, kestrels), Cathartidae (the new world vultures), the two families of owls, the Secretarybird (in a monotypic family, where it is the only member), and the osprey (also in a monotypic family). I am saving vultures for a separate post, have covered the Secretarybird already, only have one decent picture of an owl, and have not photographed osprey in Africa, so they are not covered here.

Great Sparrowhawks (Accipiter melanoleucus) occasionally visit ASYV.

African Harrier Hawk (Polyboroides typus) in a recently cleared field at
Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda

African Harrier Hawk in flight at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda

Birds of prey have strong talons and can exert serious force when they grab. If you have even seen a falconer or bird of prey demonstration at a zoo, the handlers always have specialized gloves to prevent their arms from being torn and crushed. Their bills are sharp, down-curved hooks that can rip apart flesh. Birds of prey also have excellent eyesight that they use to scan for prey as they soar in the sky. 

Is this Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus) eyeing me as a
potential meal? Pictured near Mabamba Swamp, Uganda.

Gabar Goshawks (Melierax gabar) visit ASYV in Rwanda from time to time.
This bird gave a small student group excellent views on their
first bird watching experience. Thanks, birdie!

The African Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is very similar to the American
Bald Eagle. Fish-eagles can be seen near most lakes and big rivers
that I have been to, including the Nile River, in Murchison Falls
National Park, Uganda, where this photo was taken.

This shot of African Fish-eagles is not high quality in resolution but I
include it because it shows a very important and tricky aspect of
identifying birds of prey. Young birds go through various plumages
as they age until they are mature adults. 

Southern Banded Snake-eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus) in Amani Rainforest,
Tanzania.

Western Banded Snake-eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) at the Entebbe
Botanical Gardens, Uganda.

The same Western Banded Snake-eagle in flight. 

A Black Kite (Milvus migrans) has a distinctive body shape that is easily
recognized on the wing. 

The same kite as above, at the shore of Lake Kivu, Rwanda.

All the previous pictures have been of birds in the family Accipitridae. The next three are in the family Falconidae. There are many structural differences between the two families, but they fill very similar ecological roles. Falcons, however, tend to be very fast and have longer, less broad wings. 

This Lanner Falcon (Falco biarmicus) on the far left is being mobbed by
Pied Crows. Groups of birds like crows and jays will harass birds of prey
to drive them away.

A pair of African Pygmy Falcons (Polihierax semitorquatus) in
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

A Grey Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) outside of Murchison Falls
National Park, Uganda.

You can enjoy watching a bird of prey almost anywhere in the world. Red-tailed Hawks are one of the most common birds of prey in North America. They live in Manhattan (as city as it gets), are all over the countryside, and are even easily seen in the suburbs where I am from. But at the right times of year, in many parks, you can find other migrating or resident birds of prey. Keep your eyes out for your local little game hunters!