Carnivores   Pachydermata   Ongulates   Reptiles   Primates, rodents and others   Birds    Birds of prey    Terrestrial birds    Waders and water birds

The Dark-chanting Goshawk is a medium sized raptor or bird of prey that is mainly found across sub-Saharan African. These birds are fairly easy to identify as they are predominantly grey in colour with bright orange legs and beak. There is one confusing species, the Pale-chanting Goshawk which is quite similar but in Kenya there are not in the same areas together.

Dark-chanting Goshawks are territorial nesting birds, which means the nests are constructed within a territory that is actively defended by the males. Both male and female play a role in the construction of the nest, which is a flat platform made from sticks and is then lined with spiderweb or other soft materials to add comfort and warmth to the new additions. Sometimes mud is also used to bind the sticks together. One to two eggs will be laid by the female and she is responsible for their incubation, while the males role is to provide her with food during this time.

The Dark-chanting Goshawk will feed on small mammals, birds, snakes, lizard and insects. They will hunt these creatures from a perch, which is mainly how we will spot them while on a safari. If you are lucky enough to spot one of these amazing birds, don’t only look at the bird, keep an eye out on the ground. The goshawk family has a unique symbiotic relationship with honey badgers or Southern ground-hornbills. They have been recorded to follow these two species while they are foraging for food. The goshawk will then sneakily swoop down and steal their meal. This is an example of a commensalism symbiotic relationship, which means one party benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed in the process.

in kenya we find them North West kenya from lokichokio south to Kongelai, Kerio valley and lakes Baringo and Bogoria, also west mara GR, Aitong and Lemek.

Source : Kapama.com