Polyboroides

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
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Polyboroidinae
Genus: Polyboroides
A. Smith, 1829
Species

See text

Etymology

Polyboroides: Genus Polyborus Vieillot, 1816; Greek: -οιδης -oidēs "resembling".[1]

Species

The genus Polyboroides has two recognized species:[2][3]

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Polyboroides typus (Scopoli, 1786)[4]African harrier-hawkSub-Saharan Africa
Polyboroides radiatus Smith, 1829[5]Madagascan harrier-hawkMadagascar
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

References
  1. Jobling, J.A. (2017). "Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (2018) (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
  2. Clements, J. F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition. Cornell University Press. Downloadable from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. "Polyboroides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  4. BirdLife International (2009). "Polyboroides typus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2011.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  5. BirdLife International (2009). "Polyboroides radiatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2011.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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