African Harrier-Hawk

The African Harrier-Hawk is a widespread raptor of sub-Saharan Africa, notable among raptors for its bare facial skin, which can flush color with excitement, and for legs with unusually flexible joints that allow it to reach into holes and crevices for prey. It occupies forest, woodland, and savanna habitats across much of the continent.

Body feathers are ashy gray overall, with black flight feathers showing pale barring, and the tail is black crossed by one wide grayish-white band. Vent and undertail covert feathers are notably loose and fluffy compared to the sleeker body plumage, an adaptation that may reduce feather damage while probing into cavities. Unlike most raptors, the face is bare skin rather than feathered, a feature evident when examining the head region even from a study skin or photograph rather than an isolated feather.

Adults are ashy-gray overall with black remiges showing pale barring and a single broad band across an otherwise black tail. Juveniles are considerably different, being brown overall and heavily barred, taking a few years to reach the clean gray adult pattern. The bare facial skin can flush from pale yellow to deep orange-red depending on the bird's emotional state.

This species occupies forest, woodland edge, and savanna across sub-Saharan Africa, generally avoiding only the driest desert regions and dense unbroken rainforest interior. It is largely resident throughout its range.

It forages by probing into tree holes, weaver bird nests, and palm fruit clusters using its unusually flexible, double-jointed legs, taking nestlings, insects, and other small prey inaccessible to most raptors. Flight is slow and somewhat labored with deep wingbeats, and the species gives whistling calls, particularly near the nest, which is a bulky twig platform built high in a tall tree.