African Harrier-Hawk
The African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), formerly known as Gymnogene. It is a widespread species in Sub-Saharan Africa. In southern Africa its main distribution is in the east, avoiding the drier climates of the Kalahari, most of Namibia & the Karoo.
It is found in a variety of woodland types, including savanna woodland. Often along forests along rivers & where there are koppies or cliffs. It has also colonized plantations & in some areas, large gardens with mature trees.
This bird came down to the river to drink.
It is a slow flying, slow moving species with peculiar habits. Usually solitary it can often be found clambering around rocks, cliffs or trees searching for prey. It puts it long legs & talons into rock crevices or holes in trees. It will often use its wings to keep its balance & may often be seen flapping in some precarious situations.
Drinking
It will eat lizards, small birds & it particularly adept at finding nestlings & dragging them out of a hole or nest to be devoured. It will also scavenge along roadsides for road kill.
However, the water must have been too warm
to be refreshing.
It is resident & sedentary in most of its range, however there is some local movement observed along the drier, more westerly part of its range.
After several attempts at drinking the warm water,
it started to dig with its feet to obtain
the cooler water below.
Scraping the sand.
In the Kruger National Park it is widespread along the big rivers, especially in the north (where these photos were taken). It is also frequently found along the edges of the national park, where plantations occur or farming activity is common. However, it is reliant on large mature trees both fore feeding, resting & breeding.
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