Goshawks and Sparrowhawks fall under this category and are small to medium sized birds and prey off small mammals and birds. There are twelve species in the southern Africa region.(family Accipitridae)
Size : 65cm with wingspan 160cm
Diet : Small mammals,birds,lizards. Searches for prey in flight and while clambering in trees, on ground and on cliffs.
Habitat : Fairly widespread in fybos, grasslands, forests and moist
savanna. Is an uncommon resident.
Identification : Grey with black/white barred underparts. Small narrow head with bare yellow face and long legs.
Identification : Underparts uniformly reddish / brown and slate grey upperparts.
Breeding : Early summer. Concealed nest built in tree. One or two plain white eggs which hatch after 4 to 5 weeks. Fledgling after 5 weeks.
Size : 36-47cm with wingspan 70cm
Diet : Hunts in dense cover and preys on birds and small mammals.
Identification : Underparts barred with grey upperparts. Grey cere with yellow eyes and legs. Is secretive and a loner.
Breeding : Early summer. Concealed nest built in tree. Two to three plain white eggs which hatch after 5 weeks. Fledgling after 5 weeks.
Size : 46-63cm with wingspan 110cm
Diet : Hunts from perch and preys on birds, small mammals,lizards,snakes and insects.
Habitat : Namib desert,Karoo and arid savanna areas. Endemic to southern Africa region.
Breeding : Late winter to early summer. Nest built in tree. One to two plain white eggs which hatch after 5 weeks. Fledgling after 4 weeks.
Breeding : Early summer. Nest built in tree or on cliff. One or two well marked eggs which hatch after 5 weeks. Fledgling after 7 weeks.
Habitat : Forests and dense woodlands especialy in hilly areas or mountain ranges. Common resident.
Size : 33-40cm with wingspan 65cm
Diet : Hunts in dense cover and preys mainly on small birds.
Identification : Underparts and chest pale grey
with barred belly. Cere and legs red. Inflight
shows white rump with contrasting dark
primaries and pale secondaries. Perches prominantly with upright stance
Habitat : Forests and dense woodlands including stands of alien trees. Common resident.
H A W K S
Gymnogene (Polyboroides typus)
Redbreasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris)
African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro)
Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus)