Bat Hawk

Macheiramphus alcinus

Least ConcernRareOmnivoreForestPlatform nestLarge · 650 g

About the Bat Hawk

The bat hawk is a raptor found in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia to New Guinea. It is named for its diet, which consists mainly of bats. It requires open space in which to hunt, but will live anywhere from dense rainforest to semi-arid veld.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The bat hawk is a slender, medium-sized bird of prey, 45 cm long and weighing 600–650 grams. It has long wings and a falcon-like silhouette while in flight. Adults are dark brown or black, with a white patch on the throat and chest, and have a white streak above and below each eye. Juveniles are mottled brown and have more white plumage than adults.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Eswatini, Togo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau.

When to see it

Peak activity in July · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Learn the Bat Hawk for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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