Bird Guide

>Genus Trigonoceps (White-headed Vulture)

2012-02-12T02:49:00.000-08:00

White-headed Vulture

White-headed Vulture

At Las Águilas Jungle Park, Tenerife, Spain
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Trigonoceps Lesson, 1842
Species:	T. occipitalis
Binomial name
*Trigonoceps occipitalis* (Burchell, 1824)

The White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis) is an Old World vulture endemic to Africa. It has a pink beak and a white crest, and the featherless areas on its head are pale. Its has dark brown upper parts and black tail feathers. The feathers on its lower parts and legs are white. It has a wing span of 2 m and spends a lot of time soaring looking for food. It roosts in tall trees near to water at night.

Description

Flying in Kruger National Park, South Africa

At Kasteeltuinen Arcen, Netherlands

At Las Aguilas Jungle Park, Tenerife, Spain

The White-headed Vulture is a medium-sized vulture, 72–85 cm (28–34 in) in length and 207–230 cm (82–91 in) in wingspan. Females weigh more than males; they usually weigh around 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs), while males weigh 4 kg (8.8 lbs) or less.

Status

The White-headed Vulture is rarer than previously believed, its conservation status was changed from Least Concern to Vulnerable in the 2007 IUCN Red List.

>Genus Torgos (Lappet-faced Vulture)

2012-02-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

Lappet-faced Vulture

Lappet-faced Vulture

At Rio Grande Zoo, New Mexico, USA
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Torgos Kaup, 1828
Species:	T. tracheliotos
Binomial name
*Torgos tracheliotos* (Forster, 1791)
Synonyms
Torgos tracheliotus

The Lappet-faced Vulture or Nubian Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is a mostly African Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites,buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus Torgos. A distinct subspecies T. t. negevensis occurs in the Sinai, the Negev desert, and probably north-west Saudi Arabia. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that group.

Description

The Lappet-faced Vulture is about 95–115 cm (37–45 in) in body length, with a wingspan of 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft). Wild vultures, of the subspecies T. t. tracheliotus, range from 4.4 to 9.4 kg (9.8-20.7 lb) and, in East Africa, average only 6.2 kg (13.6 lb).On the other hand, captive vultures of the larger T. t. negevensis subspecies, weighed 6.5-9.2 kg (14.3-20.2 lb) in males and 10.5-13.9 kg (23.1–30.6 lb) in females.

Like many vultures, it has a bald head. The pink (sometimes reddish) coloration is a distinctive feature. The head is bald, because a feathered head would become spattered with blood and other fluids, and thus be difficult to keep clean.

Behaviour

Perching in a tree in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The Lappet-faced Vulture is a scavenging bird, feeding mostly from animal carcasses, which it finds by sight or by watching other vultures. Large carcasses, since they provide the most subsistence at a sitting, are preferred. Lappet-faced Vultures, perhaps more than any other vulture, will on occasion attack young and weak living animals and raid the nests of other birds. Locally, Lesser Flamingoes, among others, have been reported to be culled by Lappet-faces in this way.

They are the most powerful and aggressive of the African vultures, and other vultures will usually cede a carcass to the Lappet-faced Vulture. This is often beneficial to the less powerful vultures because the Lappet-face can tear through the tough hides and muscles of large mammals that the others cannot penetrate, although hyenas are even more efficient in this regard.

>Genus Aegypius (Cinereous Vulture)

2012-02-12T02:31:00.000-08:00

Cinereous Vulture

Cinereous Vulture

Conservation status
Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.)
Family:	Accipitridae
Subfamily:	Aegypiinae
Genus:	Aegypius Savigny, 1809
Species:	A. monachus
Binomial name
*Aegypius monachus* (Linnaeus, 1766)

Green: Current resident breeding range. Green ?: May still breed. Green R: Re-introduction in progress. Blue: Winter range; rare where hatched blue. Dark grey: Former breeding range. Dark grey ?: Uncertain former breeding range.

The Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) is also known as the Black Vulture, Monk Vulture, or Eurasian Black Vulture. It is a member of the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.

This bird is an Old World vulture, and is only distantly related to the New World vultures, which are in a separate family, Cathartidae, of the same order. It is therefore not directly related to theAmerican Black Vulture despite the similar name and coloration.

It breeds across southern Europe and Asia from Portugal to Korea, but is endangered throughout its European range. It is resident except in those parts of its range where hard winters cause limited movement.

Description and natural history

The Cinereous Vulture is one of the largest true birds of prey in the world. The Himalayan Griffon Vulture is the only species to approach similar dimensions . This huge bird measures 98–107 cm (39–42 in) long with a 250–295 cm (8.2–9.68 ft) wingspan and a weight of 7–12.5 kg (15–28 lb) thus making it one of the heaviest flying birds. It breeds in high mountains and large forests, nesting in trees or occasionally on cliff ledges. The birds use sticks and twigs as building materials, and males and females cooperate in rearing young.

It has all dark blackish-brown plumage, and even at a distance can be distinguished from theGriffon Vulture by its evenly broad "barn door" wings. It has the typical vulture unfeathered bald head (actually covered in fine down), and dark markings around the eye give it a menacing skull-like appearance. The beak is brown, with a blue-grey cere, and the legs and feet are grey.

It is on average larger than mostly sympatric Griffon Vulture. Among the vultures in its range, the Eurasian Black Vulture is best equipped to tear open tough carcass skins, using its powerful bill. The cinereous vulture feeds on carrion ranging from large mammals to fish and reptiles.It is dominant over other vultures at carcasses.

It can fly at a very high altitude. It has a specialised haemoglobin alpha^D subunit of high oxygen affinity which makes it possible to take up oxygen efficiently despite the low partial pressure in the upper troposphere.

Status and conservation

The Cinereous Vulture has declined over most of its range in the last 200 years due to poisoning by eating poisoned bait put out to kill dogs and other predators, and to higher hygiene standards reducing the amount of available carrion; it is currently listed as near threatened. The decline has been the greatest in the western half of the range, with extinction in many European countries (France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Romania) and northwest Africa (Morocco, Algeria). More recently, protection and deliberate feeding schemes have allowed some local recoveries in numbers, particularly in Spain, where numbers increased to about 1,000 pairs by 1992 after an earlier decline to 200 pairs in 1970. This colony have now spread its breeding grounds to Portugal ref 7. Elsewhere in Europe, very small but increasing numbers breed in Bulgaria and Greece, and a re-introduction scheme is under way in France. Trends in the small populations in Ukraine (Crimea) and European Russia, and in Asian populations, are not well recorded. In the former USSR, it is still threatened by illegal capture for zoos, and in Tibet by rodenticides.

Etymology

The genus name Aegypius is a Greek word (αιγυπιος) for 'vulture', or a bird not unlike one; Aelian describes the aegypius as "halfway between a vulture (gyps) and an eagle". Some authorities think this a good description of a lammergeier; others do not. Aegypius is theeponym of the species, whatever it was. The English name 'Black Vulture' refers to the plumage colour, while 'Monk Vulture', a direct translation of its German name Mönchsgeier, refers to the bald head and ruff of neck feathers like a monk's cowl. 'Cinereous Vulture' (Latincineraceus, ash-coloured; pale, whitish grey), was a deliberate attempt to rename it with a new name distinct from the American Black Vulture.

Gallery

>Genus Sarcogyps (Red-headed Vulture)

2012-02-12T02:28:00.000-08:00

Red-headed Vulture

Red-headed Vulture

Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Sarcogyps Lesson, 1842
Species:	S. calvus
Binomial name
*Sarcogyps calvus* (Scopoli, 1786)

Current distribution range of red headed vulture
Synonyms
Aegypius calvus Torgos calvus

The Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), also known as the Asian King Vulture, Indian Black Vulture or Pondicherry Vulture,

Description

Its a medium-sized vulture of 76 to 86 cm (30 to 34 in) in length, weighing 3.5–6.3 kg (7.7–14 lb) and having a wingspan of about 1.99–2.6 m (6.5–8.5 ft). The adult has a prominent deep red to orange naked head and the juvenile being of paler red. It has a black body with pale grey band at the base of flight feathers. The sexes differ in colour of the iris: males have a paler, whitish iris, while in females it is dark brown.

Red headed vulture female atRanthambore

Taxonomy and Systematics

This is a species of Old World vulture found in the Indian Subcontinent. It has no subspecies.

Distribution and Habitat

This gaudy-faced vulture was historically abundant with range over south-central and south-eastern Asiaextending from India to Singapore. Today the range of the Red-headed Vulture is localized primarily to northernIndia. It is usually in open country and in cultivated and semi-desert areas. It is also found in deciduous forests and foothills and river valleys. It is usually found up to an altitude of 3000m from sea level.

At Berlin Zoo

Conservation Status

It used to be declining, but only slowly; in 1994 it was uplisted to Near Threatened from Least Concern by the IUCN. The widespread use of the NSAID Diclofenac in veterinary medicine inIndia has caused its population to collapse in recent years, however. Diclofenac is a compound now known to be extremely poisonous to vultures. The population of this species has essentially halved every other year since the late 1990s, and what once was a plentiful species numbering in the hundreds of thousands has come dangerously close to extinction in less than two decades. Consequently it was uplisted to Critically Endangered in the 2007 IUCN Red List. Several NSAIDs have been found to be harmful to scavenging birds. Diclofenac, carprofen, flunixin, ibuprofen and phenylbutazone were associated with mortality. Meloxicam has thus far been found to be "Vulture-Safe" and its use in veterinary treatment of livestock is being encouraged.

>Subfamily Aegypiinae (Old World vulture)

2012-02-12T02:24:00.000-08:00

Old World vulture

Old World vultures

Lappet-faced Vultures (left) and a White-backed Vulture
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Subfamily:	Aegypiinae
Genera
See text.

Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks.

Old World vultures are not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures andcondors, and do not share that group's good sense of smell. The similarities between the two groups of vultures are due to convergent evolution rather than a close relationship. They were widespread in both the Old World and North America, during the Neogene. Old World vultures are probably a polyphyletic group within Accipitridae, with Palm-nut Vulture, Egyptian Vulture andLammergeier separate from the others.

Both Old World and New World vultures are scavenging birds, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals. Old World vultures find carcasses exclusively by sight. A particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, devoid of feathers. If vultures had head feathers, they would become spattered with blood and other fluids when the vultures ate flesh from carcasses, and thus would be difficult to keep clean.

Species

Genus Aegypius

Cinereous Vulture, Aegypius monachus

Genus Gypaetus

Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus

Genus Gypohierax

Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis

Genus Gyps

Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
White-rumped Vulture, Gyps bengalensis
Rüppell's Vulture, Gyps rueppelli
Indian Vulture, Gyps indicus
Slender-billed Vulture, Gyps tenuirostris
Himalayan Vulture, Gyps himalayensis
White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus
Cape Vulture, Gyps coprotheres

Genus Necrosyrtes

Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus

Genus Neophron

Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus

Genus Sarcogyps

Red-headed Vulture, Sarcogyps calvus

Genus Torgos

Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotus

Genus Trigonoceps

White-headed Vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis

Threat due to diclofenac poisoning

Diclofenac poisoning has caused the vulture population in India and Pakistan to decline by up to 95% in the past decade, and two or three of the species of vulture in South Asia are nearing extinction. This has been caused by the practice of medicating working farm animals with diclofenac, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with anti-inflammatory and pain killing actions. Diclofenac administration keeps animals that are ill or in pain working on the land for longer, but, if the ill animals die, their carcasses contain diclofenac. Farmers leave the dead animals out in the open, relying on vultures to tidy up. Diclofenac present in carcass flesh is eaten by vultures, which are sensitive to diclofenac, and they suffer kidney failure, visceral gout, and death as a result of diclofenac poisoning.

The decline in vultures has led to hygiene problems in India as carcasses of dead animals now tend to rot, or be eaten by rats or wild dogs, rather than be tidied up by vultures. Rabies among these other scavengers is a major health threat. India has one of the world's highest incidences of rabies.

The decline in vultures causes particular problems for certain communities, such as the Parsi, who practice sky burials, where the human dead are put on the top of a Tower of Silence and are eaten by vultures, leaving only dry bones.

Meloxicam (another NSAID) has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove an acceptable alternative to diclofenac.The Government of India banned diclofenac, but over a year later, in 2007, it continued to be sold and is still a problem in other parts of the world.

In culture

Ancient Egypt

In Southern Africa, the name for a Nubian vultureit is synonymous with the term applied to lovers, because these vultures are always seen in pairs, mother and child remaining closely bonded together. Pairing, bonding, protecting, and loving are essential attributes associated along with the vulture's size and its ability to soar high in the sky.

The Egyptians considered the vulture to be an excellent mother, and the wide wingspan was seen as all-encompassing and providing a protective cover to her infants. The white Egyptian vulture was the animal picked to represent Nekhbet, the mother goddess and protective patron of southern, Upper Egypt. The vulture hieroglyph

was the Egyptian sign used for the sound (3) including words such as mother, prosperous, grandmother, and ruler.

Hindu mythology

Ravana cuts Jatayu's wings, by Ravi Varma

In the Hindu epic Ramayana, there appear two demi-gods who had the form of vultures, Jatayu (Sanskrit: जटायू, jatāyū) and his brother Sampaati, with whom are associated stories of courage and self-sacrifice.

When young, the two used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by sun's flames. Sampaati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampaati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result Sampaati lived wingless for the rest of his life.

When Jatayu was old, he witnessed the beautiful Sita, wife of the god Rama, being kidnapped by Ravana. Jatayu tried to save her but was defeated and mortally wounded. When he lay dying he was still able to tellRama and his brother Lakshmana in which direction Sita was being taken, facilitating her eventual rescue.

Tibet

In the Tibetan practice of sky burial, vultures and other birds eat human corpses.

Contemporary concepts

Although the vulture plays an important natural role, in the Western world, the image of the vulture is quite negative, with 'vulture' used as a metaphor for those who prey on the weak or dying, with associated negative connotations of cowardice and selfishness.

Conservation efforts

A project named "Vulture Restaurant" is underway in Nepal in an effort to conserve the dwindling number of vultures. The "restaurant" is an open grassy area where naturally dying, sick, and old cows are fed to the vultures.

>Genus Machaerhamphus (Bat Hawk)

2012-02-11T02:09:00.000-08:00

Bat Hawk

Bat Hawk

Bat Hawk at Cape Vidal, Northern Natal,South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Macheiramphus Bonaparte, 1850
Species:	M. alcinus
Binomial name
*Macheiramphus alcinus* Bonaparte, 1850

The Bat Hawk (Macheiramphus alcinus) is a raptor found in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia toNew 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.

Description

The Bat Hawk is a slender, medium-sized bird of prey, usually about 45 cm long. It has long wings and a falconine silhouette. 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.

Behavior

Hunting

Bats are the usual prey of the Bat Hawk, although they may eat small birds, such as swallows,swifts and nightjars, or even insects. They hunt by chasing their prey at high speeds in flight. About 49% of their hunts are successful.

The Bat Hawk is crepuscular and hunts at dusk.

Breeding

Courtship involves many aerial displays and stunts. The nest is built with sticks gathered in flight, and is about 90 cm across and 30 cm deep.The female is solely responsible for incubating her clutch. The male often shares food with her. About a month after incubation begins, the eggs hatch, and both parents help to feed their young. 30–45 days after hatching, the young fledge. They leave the nest soon after.

Bat Hawks breed most years.

Conservation

Due to its large range and relatively stable population, the Bat Hawk is of least concern.

>Chondrohierax wilsonii (Cuban Kite)

2012-02-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

Cuban Kite

Cuban Kite
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Chondrohierax
Species:	C. wilsonii
Binomial name
*Chondrohierax wilsonii* (Cassin, 1847)

The Cuban Kite, Chondrohierax wilsonii, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. It is endemic to Cuba.

This species is classified as critically endangered by BirdLife International. The current population is estimated 50 to 250 mature birds. After a last confirmed sighting in 2001 and an unconfirmed sighting in 2004 Cuban ornithologist Nils Navarro Pacheco took a photograph of one individual in 2009.

The Clements Checklist and the AOU consider it as subspecies of the Hook-billed Kite.

>Chondrohierax uncinatus (Hook-billed Kite)

2012-02-11T02:00:00.000-08:00

Hook-billed Kite

Hook-billed Kite
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Subfamily:	Perninae
Genus:	Chondrohierax
Species:	C. uncinatus
Binomial name
*Chondrohierax uncinatus* (Temminck, 1822)

The Hook-billed Kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers. It occurs in theAmericas, including the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean,Central America, and tropical South America.

It is a mid-sized, slender raptor with an invariably striped belly and banded tail but there is probably more individual variation in color and in size of bill than in any other species of diurnal raptor. Birds from beneath can look blackish or gray (especially males) and brown or brick-red (females) variously. This renders species identification at times extremely difficult. The downcurved hook at the tip of the beak is apparent on perched and low-flying birds. Weight can range from 215 to 397 grams (7.6-14 oz.) and length is 38–51 cm (15–20 in).

Tree snails are this raptor's favorite prey but frogs, salamanders, small mammals and insects are also taken. When it finds a tree snail it holds it with its talon and uses its beak to pry open the shell. The nest is a flimsy platform of sticks is built by both sexes. The Hook-billed Kite lays two to three buff-white eggs marked with red-brown. Incubation is by both sexes. Semialtricial young stay in the nest 35–45 days and are fed by both sexes. This raptor is often considered sluggish and retiring, preferring to perch inside leafy canopy when not flying.

The critically endangered Cuban Kite, C. wilsonii, is considered by some authors to be a subspecies of the Hook-billed Kite.

>Leptodon forbesi (White-collared Kite)

2012-02-10T01:57:00.000-08:00

White-collared Kite

White-collared Kite
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Leptodon
Species:	L. forbesi
Binomial name
*Leptodon forbesi* (Swann, 1922)

White-collared Kite range

The White-collared Kite, Leptodon forbesi, is a South American raptor. It breeds in north eastern Brazil.

The White-collared Kite is 50 cm in length. The adult has a grey head with white hindneck, black upperparts, white underparts, and a grey tail with a very broad, black subterminal band and whitish tip. It is very similar to the more southerly distributed Grey-headed Kite (L. cayanensis) and was often merged into it as a subspecies.

This species is classified as Critically Endangered. There have been very few sightings if it, and nothing is known of its feeding or breeding ecology. The areas in which it has been sighted, in coastal Alagoas and Pernambuco, has been subject to massive deforestation. The current population is estimated at some 50 pairs.

The binomial commemorates the British zoologist William Alexander Forbes.

>Leptodon cayanensis (Gray-headed Kite)

2012-02-10T01:55:00.000-08:00

Gray-headed Kite

Gray-headed Kite

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Leptodon
Species:	L. cayanensis
Binomial name
*Leptodon cayanensis* (Latham, 1790)

The Gray-headed Kite, Leptodon cayanensis, is a raptor found in open woodland and swamp forests. It shares the genus Leptodon with the extremely rare White-collared Kite. It breeds from eastern Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru, Bolivia,Brazil and northern Argentina.

The nest is made of sticks lined with grass and is built high in a tree. The clutch is one or two white eggs, purplish at one end and spotted brown.

The Gray-headed Kite is 46–53 cm in length and weighs 410-605 g. The adult has a grey head, black upperparts, white underparts, and a black tail with two or three white bars. The bill is blue and the legs grey. The flight is a deliberate flap-flap-glide.

Immature birds have two colour morphs; the light phase is similar to the adult, but has a white head and neck, with a black crown and eyestripe, black bill and yellow legs. The dark phase has a blackish head, neck and upperparts, and dark-streaked buff underparts.

The Gray-headed Kite feeds mainly on reptiles, but also takes frogs and large insects. It usually sits on an open high perch from which it swoops on its prey. The call is a mewling keow.

>Genus Leptodon

2012-02-10T01:53:00.000-08:00

Genus Leptodon

Leptodon

Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Leptodon Sundevall, 1836
species
L. cayanensis L. forbesi

Leptodon is a genus of birds of prey. Its two members are similar, with a grey head, black upperparts and white underparts. They are:

Grey-headed Kite, Leptodon cayanensis
White-collared Kite, Leptodon forbesi

Grey-headed Kite is a widespread species, breeding from eastern Mexico and Trinidad south to Peru, Bolivia and northern Argentina. However, White-collared Kite is restricted to northeastern Brazil, and is classified as Critically Endangered.

>Pernis celebensis (Barred Honey Buzzard)

2012-02-09T01:51:00.000-08:00

Barred Honey Buzzard

Barred Honey Buzzard

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes (but see there)
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Pernis
Species:	P. celebensis
Binomial name
*Pernis celebensis* Wallace, 1868

The Barred Honey Buzzard (Pernis celebensis) is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridaefamily.

It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

>Pernis ptilorhynchus (Crested Honey Buzzard)

2012-02-09T01:50:00.000-08:00

Crested Honey Buzzard

Crested Honey Buzzard

Male at Hodal in Faridabad District ofHaryana, India.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Pernis
Species:	P. ptilorhynchus
Binomial name
*Pernis ptilorhynchus* Temminck, 1821

The Crested Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridaewhich also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. This species is also known as the Oriental Honey Buzzard.

Female at Bharatpur

In Kolkata

Despite its name, this species is not related to Buteo buzzards, and is taxonomically closer to the kites. It appears long-necked with a small head (resembling that of a pigeon), and soars on flat wings. The head lacks a strong supraciliary ridge giving it a very un-raptor-like facial appearance. It has a long tail and a short head crest. It is brown above, but not as dark as Honey Buzzard, and paler below. There is a dark throat stripe. Unusually for a large bird of prey, the sexes can be distinguished. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. She is slightly larger and darker than the male. The male has a black tail with a white band, whilst the female resembles female Honey Buzzard.

It breeds in Asia from central Siberia east to Japan. It is a summer migrant to Siberia, wintering in tropical south east Asia. Elsewhere it is more-or-less resident. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps, although it will take other small insect prey such as cicadas.

The Crested Honey Buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. The display of roller-coasting in flight and fluttering wings at the peak of the ascent are characteristic of the genus Pernis.

It is larger and longer winged than its western counterpart, Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus.

Mimicry

It has been suggested that the similarity in plumage between juvenile Crested Honey Buzzard and the Spizaetus hawk-eagles has arisen as a partial protection against predation by larger raptors. The eagles have stronger bills and talons, and are likely to be less vulnerable than the Pernisspecies.

Similar mimicry is shown by the juveniles of the European Honey Buzzard, which resembles theCommon Buzzard. Although the Northern Goshawk is capable of killing both species, it is likely to be more cautious about attacking the better protected Buteo species.

>Pernis apivorus (European Honey Buzzard)

2012-02-09T01:47:00.000-08:00

European Honey Buzzard

European Honey Buzzard

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Pernis
Species:	P. apivorus
Binomial name
*Pernis apivorus* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Orange: Summer range Blue: Breeding/winter range of Honey Buzzard.

Egg of Pernis apivorus

The European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers.

Despite its name, this species is more closely related to kites of the genera Leptodon andChondrohierax than to true buzzards in the genus Buteo.

It is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps and hornets, although it will take small mammals, reptiles and birds. It is the only known predator of the Asian giant hornet. It is thought that Honey Buzzards have a chemical deterrent in their feathers that protects them from wasp attack. The specific name apivorus means "bee-eater", although bees are much less important than wasps in its diet.

The European Honey Buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. Breeding males are fiercely territorial.

The 52–60-centimetre-long (20–24 in) Honey Buzzard is larger and longer winged, with a 135–150-centimetre (53–59 in) wingspan, when compared to the smaller Common Buzzard Buteo buteo. It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than the Buteo buzzard, usually with two narrow dark bars and a broad dark sub-terminal bar.

The sexes can be distinguished on plumage, which is unusual for a large bird of prey. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.

Being a long distance migrant, the Honey Buzzard relies on magnetic orientation to find its way south, as well as a visual memory of remarkable geographical features along the way (Mountain ranges, rivers, etc.). This species follows precise migratory routes that avoid large expanses of water over which it cannot soar. Accordingly, great numbers of Honey Buzzards can be seen crossing the Mediterranean sea over its narrowest stretches, such as the Gibraltar Strait, theBosphorus, or in Israel.

The call is a clear peee-lu.

Status and distribution

Status in Britain

The European Honey Buzzard is an uncommon breeder and scarce, but increasing, migrant in Britain. Its best well-known summer population is in the New Forest, Hampshire, but it is also found in Tyne Valley (Northumberland), in Wareham Forest (Dorset), in Swanton Novers Great Wood (Norfolk), in the Neath valleys (South Wales), in the Clumber Park area (Nottinghamshire), near Wykeham Forest (North Yorkshire), Haldon Forest Park (Devon) and at numerous other sites in England, Wales and Scotland.

Behaviour

The European Honey Buzzard is seen in a wide range of habitats, but generally prefers woodland and exotic plantations.

It is sometimes seen soaring in thermals. The soaring jizz is quite diagnostic; the wings are held straight with the wing tips horizontal or sometimes slightly pointed down. The head protrudes forwards with a slight kink downwards and sometimes a very angular chest can be seen, similar to a Sparrowhawk, although this may not be diagnostic. The angular chest is most pronounced when seen in direct flight with tail narrowed. When flying in wooded vegetation, Honey Buzzards usually fly quite low and perch in mid canopy, holding the body relatively horizontal with tail drooping.

The bird often appears restless with much ruffling of the wings and shifting around on its perch. The Honey Buzzard often inspects possible locations of food from its perch, cocking its head this way and that to get a good look at possible food locations. This behaviour is reminiscent of an inquisitive parrot.

European Honey Buzzards also hop from branch to branch, each time flapping their wings once, and so emitting a loud clap.

Mimicry

It has been suggested that the similarity in plumage between juvenile European Honey Buzzard and Common Buzzard has arisen as a partial protection against predation by Northern Goshawks. Although that formidable predator is capable of killing both species, it is likely to be more cautious about attacking the better protected Buteo species, with its stronger bill and talons.

Similar Batesian mimicry is shown by the Asian Pernis species, which resemble the Spizaetus hawk-eagles

>Genus Pernis (bird)

2012-02-09T01:44:00.000-08:00

Genus Pernis (bird)

Pernis

Honey Buzzard
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes)
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Pernis Cuvier, 1816
species
P. apivorus P. ptilorhynchus P. celebensis

Pernis is a genus of birds in the raptor subfamily Perninae. It consists of three medium-sized broad-winged species.

European Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus
Crested Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
Barred Honey Buzzard, Pernis celebensis

They breed in temperate and warmer climates of the Old World, and are specialist feeders onwasp larvae. The two temperate species, the European and Crested Honey Buzzards, aremigratory.

They breed in woodland, and are often inconspicuous except when displaying.

The members of this genus have plumage which mimics that of juvenile Common Buzzards or of Spizaetus hawk-eagles. It has been suggested that the similarity has arisen as a partial protection against predation by larger raptors such as goshawks, which may be wary about attacking what appears to be a better-protected species with stronger bill and talons than the honey buzzards actually possess.

>Henicopernis longicauda (Long-tailed Honey Buzzard)

2012-02-09T01:42:00.000-08:00

Long-tailed Honey Buzzard

Long-tailed Honey Buzzard
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Henicopernis
Species:	H. longicauda
Binomial name
*Henicopernis longicauda* (Garnot, 1828)

The Long-tailed Honey Buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda) is a species of bird of prey in theAccipitridae family.

It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

>Henicopernis infuscatus (Black Honey Buzzard)

2012-02-09T01:38:00.000-08:00

Black Honey Buzzard

Black Honey Buzzard
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Henicopernis
Species:	H. infuscatus
Binomial name
*Henicopernis infuscatus* Gurney, 1882

The Black Honey Buzzard (Henicopernis infuscatus) is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridaefamily. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

Big, forest raptor. Almost completely covered in black with exceptions of white bands on flight and tail feathers.

>Aviceda subcristata Gould (Pacific Baza)

2012-02-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

Aviceda subcristata Gould (Pacific Baza)

Pacific Baza

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Aviceda
Species:	A. subcristata
Binomial name
*Aviceda subcristata* (Gould, 1838)

Distribution of the Pacific Baza, Subspecies Separated by Lines

The Pacific Baza, Aviceda subcristata, also known as the Crested Hawk, is a slender, medium-sized hawk with a distinctive crest. Its upperside is mainly dark brown, with a grey head and yellow eyes. It is conspicuously barred white and dark brown on the breast and on the underside of the tail and flight feathers. Females are slightly larger than males. It is found in coastal and subcoastal areas of northern and eastern Australia, Wallacea, New Guinea and adjacent islands.

Hunting and Prey

The Pacific Baza has a distinctive hunting behaviour. When potential food is spotted in the treetops from above, the Pacific Baza lifts its wings into a distinctive Vee shape and dives briskly into the canopy to devour its prey.

It feeds on stick insects (especially when breeding) as well as other large insects, tree frogs,lizards, small birds and fruit. It nests high in forest and woodland trees, with a clutch size of 2-4.

Immature, Kobble Ck, SE Queensland, Australia

>Aviceda madagascariensis Smith (Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk)

2012-02-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Aviceda madagascariensis Smith (Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk)

Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Aviceda
Species:	A. madagascariensis
Binomial name
*Aviceda madagascariensis* (Smith, 1834)

The Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk (Aviceda madagascariensis), also known as the Madagascar Baza or the Madagascar Cuckoo Falcon, is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It isendemic to Madagascar.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.

>Aviceda leuphotes Dumont (Black Baza)

2012-02-08T22:44:00.000-08:00

Aviceda leuphotes Dumont (Black Baza)

Black Baza

Black Baza
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Aviceda
Species:	A. leuphotes
Binomial name
*Aviceda leuphotes* (Dumont, 1820)
Synonyms
Falco leuphotes

The Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes) is a small sized bird of prey found in the forests of South Asiaand Southeast Asia. Many populations are migratory. The races in the Indian region are migratory, wintering in the south of the Peninsula and Sri Lanka. The Black Bazas have short, stout legs and feet with strong talons. A prominent crest is a feature of the Bazas. They are found in dense forest often in small groups. They are also known to spend a lot of time perching on open perches overlooking forest canopy.

Description

Underwing pattern

The Black Baza is a small and distinctively coloured raptor. When perched, the upright crest and contrasting patterns make it difficult to misidentify. The male has white scapulars, secondary coverts and on the secondaries. The female has white only on the scapulars and more chestnut bands on the underside unlike the few bands in the male. In flight it is crow like and is often seen in small groups or flocks during migration. During migration, they are gregarious at their roost.They are somewhat crepuscular and more active at dusk and in overcast weather.

They feed mainly on insects by making aerial sallies. They may also pick insects off a leaf, the insects always seized with their feet. They have been observed to attempt capturing small birds such as wagtails by making dashes into flocks.They have been noted to join mixed-species foraging flocks. It has also been known to feed on the fruits of the oil palm. They are somewhat crepuscular in habit. The call is a "chu-weep" somewhat similar to the call of the Large Cuckoo-shrike. Other descriptions include a soft squeal or whistle and a shrill gull-like mewing.

Like others in the genus Aviceda they have two tooth like indentations on the edge of the upper bill. Birds are said to have a disagreeable odour which has been said to be "bug-like".

Taxonomy and systematics

Characteristic "tooth" on the upper mandible

The bird was first described based on a specimen from Pondicherry under the name of Falco leuphotes. Several geographic races have been described including wolfei which is based on a single specimen from Sichuan and may belong to the nominate subspecies. The named forms include the following but have been questioned: and further study has been called for

syama (Hodgson, 1837) from eastern Nepal, northeastern India to south China which winters in Indo-China and the Malaya Peninsula
leuphotes (Dumont, 1820) (said to breed in SW India but evidence questioned by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005)) is said to breed in Burma and Thailand but those may actually be the same as syama although the population in this region has in the past been assigned the name ofburmana
andamanica Abdulali & Grubh, 1970 is endemic to the Andaman Islands (South Andaman I) and has completely white underparts lacking any chestnut bands

Distribution

This species is found in Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. They are migratory in parts of their range. Migratory birds may be seen in large numbers at some locations such as Chumphon in Thailand where they account for nearly 40% of the raptors on passage. In some parts of Hong Kong, they have established themselves in recent times changing from summer visitors to residents in small numbers.

In southern India the species is regularly reported in winter mainly from the Western Ghats (breeding records have been questioned), Eastern Ghats (mainly on spring passage) and known to breed in northeastern India and Burma. Winter records of the species include stray occurrences in or near metropolitan areas such as the Guindy National Park in Chennai, near Trivandrum andBangalore. More recent studies have suggested that the species may be a regular winter visitor in the eastern part of peninsular India, and not just a passage migrant.Individuals have also been noted at Point Calimere.

The birds in northeastern India begin to breed in April. Both sexes take part in nest building, incubation, brooding and feeding. The nest is a firm platform of thin sticks with a central depression and lined with grass, fiber and overlaid with green leaves. The eggs take about 26–27 days to hatch. Insects are the predominant food of the chicks.