Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Accipitriformes · Rare

The Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) is a rare kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 6 countries, weighing about 630 g. The eastern (pale) chanting goshawk, or Somali chanting goshawk, is a bird of prey of East Africa.

Least ConcernRareEats vertebratesshrublandplatform nest630 g

About the Eastern Chanting Goshawk

The eastern (pale) chanting goshawk, or Somali chanting goshawk, is a bird of prey of East Africa.

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

How to identify it

This species averages 49 to 55 cm (19 to 22 in) long, with a wingspan of 96 to 110 cm (38 to 43 in) and a tail length of 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in). Males average 85 percent the size of females. Like the other chanting goshawks, it resembles an accipiter but the tail is shorter and graduated (the feathers increase in length from the edges to the center), and the wings are broader. Adults have grey head, neck, breast, and upperparts, except for the white or lightly barred uppertail coverts. The belly has narrow grey and white bars and the undertail coverts are white.

Where it lives

When to see it

The Eastern Chanting Goshawk can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify an Eastern Chanting Goshawk?
This species averages 49 to 55 cm (19 to 22 in) long, with a wingspan of 96 to 110 cm (38 to 43 in) and a tail length of 20 to 25 cm (7.9 to 9.8 in). Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is an Eastern Chanting Goshawk?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is a large sized bird weighing about 630 g.
Where can you see an Eastern Chanting Goshawk?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk occurs in 6 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda and Somalia.
What birds look similar to an Eastern Chanting Goshawk?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is most easily confused with the Dark Chanting Goshawk and the Pale Chanting Goshawk.
Is the Eastern Chanting Goshawk endangered?
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Eastern Chanting Goshawk for real

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