Gabar Goshawk - Melierax gabar

Gabar Goshawk

Melierax gabar

Order : Accipitriformes

Family : Accipitridae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 28 à 36 cm
Wingspan : 63 cm
Weight : M: 110 à 173 gr - F: 180 à 221 gr

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Малый Певчий Яст (ru), Gabarhök (sv), Gavilán Gabar (es), Astore gabar (it), Gabarhabicht (al), Gabarhavik (nl), Gabar Goshawk (en)

Physical description :
Gabar Goshawk is smaller than other Goshawks. We can observe two morphs, one grey and one almost black. This melanistic form represents about 6 to 25 % of population.
In typical grey morph, adult has plain grey upperparts and white rump. Tail is grey, barred with black.
Underparts are plain grey on chest. Belly is white, barred with grey. Vent is white. Flight feathers are sooty-grey with very pale grey bars. Tail is white with broad dark grey bars.
Head is grey. Bill is black, with red cere and gape. Eyes are deep dark red. Long bare legs and stocky toes are bright red.
Melanistic form shows black plumage overall, with pale grey bars across flight feathers above, and white barring below. Red legs scales are flecked with black.
Both sexes are similar, but female is about 15% larger than male.
Juvenile has various brown plumages, from pale rufous to dark fuscous.
Upperparts are rather brown with pale streaked head, and pale edges on body feathers.
Underparts are white, broadly streaked brown on chest, and barred brown on belly.
Cere and legs are rather orange-red than in adults. Eyes are pale yellow.
Juvenile melanistic form is dark from hatching.

Voice : Gabar Goshawk utters varied piping 'kew-ke, kew-ke' during courtship displays. But we can also hear a high-pitched 'twee-twit- twee-twee-twee-twit', uttered when disturbed and alarmed.

Habitat : Gabar Goshawk lives in savannahs and semi-arid scrub with scattered trees. It avoids too dense forests and driest deserts. It is rather found in drier thorn savannah, and also along watercourses.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: Gabar Goshawk is found in savannahs and steppes of sub-Saharan Africa, extending to Arabian Peninsula.

Behaviour : Gabar Goshawk uses several hunting techniques, according to the prey and the place. It is an active and tame hunter.
It strikes from cover, but it also searches for prey while flying very fast; it follows prey into bushes, and tears away and robs nests.
They also hunt in pairs, perched on the sides of bushes and trees, waiting for emerging prey. Sometimes, they can climb through branches.
When breeding season starts, males perch high in trees and gives their whistling calls. Mates often perform flight displays, chasing each other into the trees.
Gabar Goshawk is usually found singly or in pairs.

Flight : Gabar Goshawk flies fast and low, flapping and then gliding with broad pointed wings. It glides and soars with upcurved wings.

Reproduction-nesting : Gabar Goshawk's nest is usually built by female, in a thorny tree. Nest is made with sticks, and relatively small. Interior is lined with earth, spider webs and sometimes, pieces of rags.
Female lays one to three eggs, and broods them during incubating period. She brings most of its food to chicks.

Food habits : Gabar Goshawk feeds mainly on birds (as thrushes), but also on small mammals and lizards. It catches insects on the wing.

Protection / threats : Gabar Goshawk is locally common to scarce resident. It is more local in woodlands and around forests patches, avoiding exotic tree plantations.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

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