Polyboroides
African harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Polyboroidinae
Genus: Polyboroides
A. Smith, 1829
Type species
Polyboroides typus[1]
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".[2]

Species

The genus Polyboroides has two recognized species:[3][4]

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[5])

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[6] 		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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polyboroides.
Wikispecies has information related to Polyboroides.
  1. ^ "Accipitridae". aviansystematics.org. The 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.


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