Polyboroides

Polyboroides
African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Polyboroidinae
Genus: Polyboroides
A. Smith, 1829
Type species
Polyboroides typus
A. Smith, 1829
Species

See text

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.

Etymology

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

Species

The genus Polyboroides has two recognized species:

Genus Polyboroides – A. Smith, 1829 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
African harrier-hawk

 Polyboroides typus
(Scopoli, 1786)

Two subspecies
  • P. t. typus - Smith, A, 1829
  • P. t. pectoralis - Sharpe, 1903
Sub-Saharan Africa Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 

Madagascar harrier-hawk

 Polyboroides radiatus
Smith, 1829		 Madagascar Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


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. ↑ "Accipitridae". Howard & Moore Checklist Online. Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ↑ Jobling, J.A. (2017). "Key to Scientific Names in Ornithology". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions.
  3. ↑ Clements, J. F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition. Cornell University Press. Downloadable from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  4. ↑ "Polyboroides". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  5. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Polyboroides typus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22695409A93508060. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695409A93508060.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  6. ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Polyboroides radiatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22695415A93508513. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22695415A93508513.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.