Long-tailed Hawk

Taxobox
name = Long-tailed Hawk
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Falconiformes
familia = Accipitridae
genus = "Urotriorchis"
genus_authority = Sharpe, 1874
species = "U. macrourus"
binomial = "Urotriorchis macrourus"
binomial_authority = (Hartlaub, 1855)

The Long-tailed Hawk ("Urotriorchis macrourus") is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. It is the only member of the genus "Urotriorchis".

This hawk inhabits the rainforests of western and central Africa. It has a wingspan of 0.90 m and can stand a total length of 0.60 m, including the tail of 0.30 m.

The Long-tailed Hawk primarily eats squirrels and small birds; it can also hunt chickens in the villages close to the forest. Its hunting tactics consist of breaking the neck of its prey.

The mating season occurs in July-August, when the pair build a nest on a high tree. Little is known regarding nesting and breeding the young.

Etymology

"Uro-" is from the Greek "tail" (Williams 2005), and "triorchis" meant a kind of hawk thought to have three testicles—for further details see "Eutriorchis". "Macro-" is from the Greek for "long" (Williams 2005), so "macrourus" means "long-tailed", as in the English name.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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