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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
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
Wallace's Hawk-EagleNisaetus nanusWallace's hawk-eagle is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
Philippine Serpent EagleSpilornis holospilusThe Philippine serpent eagle is an eagle found in the major islands of the Philippines.
Slender-billed KiteHelicolestes hamatusThe slender-billed kite is a slaty gray kite with broad, rounded wings and a short, square tail.
Learn the Bat Hawk for real
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