Micronisus gabar
The Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar) is a captivating small to medium-sized raptor, typically measuring 28-36 cm in length with a wingspan ranging from 50-65 cm. Males are smaller, weighing 100-170g, while females are noticeably larger at 170-240g. This species is celebrated for its striking plumage dimorphism, appearing in a common slate-grey morph with white finely barred underparts, rufous thighs, and a prominent white rump, or a less frequent entirely sooty-black melanistic morph. Both mo...
Found in diverse wooded environments including savannas, dry woodlands, acacia thornbush, and riverine forests, often in semi-arid regions, from sea level up to approximately 2,000 meters.
Mainly preys on small birds such as finches, weavers, and doves. Also consumes lizards, large insects (e.g., grasshoppers, beetles), and occasionally small mammals or amphibians, typically foraging from a perch with short, swift flights.
Primarily diurnal, the Gabar Goshawk is an active and opportunistic hunter, spending its days either perched unobtrusively or engaging in swift, low-level flights. It employs a highly agile hunting strategy, often launching explosive bursts from concealed perches to capture prey, even pursuing bi...
The Gabar Goshawk boasts an extensive distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, spanning from Senegal and Mauritania in the west, eastward through the Sahel zone to Eritrea and Somalia, and southwards across much of East and Southern Africa, reaching its southern limit in South Africa. It is predom...
Least Concern
- The Gabar Goshawk is renowned for its remarkable mimicry of harmless shrikes, particularly the Magpie Shrike, allowing it to get closer to unsuspecting prey. - It is one of the few raptors that exhibits two distinct color morphs - a common grey and a striking all-black melanistic form - both wi...