Astur henstii
The Henst's Goshawk (*Astur henstii*), an imposing and enigmatic raptor, stands as Madagascar's largest extant avian predator. Adults are characterized by their dark slate-grey upperparts, contrasting with whitish underparts finely barred with rufous on the flanks and thighs, and a distinctive white throat. Its powerful build includes short, broad wings, a relatively short, broad, barred tail, and striking yellow eyes, cere, and legs. Measuring 52-62 cm in length with a wingspan of 90-110 cm,...
Primarily inhabits dense, primary evergreen rainforests and deciduous forests, also tolerating degraded forests and plantations. Found from sea level up to 2000-2300 meters in elevation.
Feeds primarily on medium-sized birds, including various forest species and even domestic chickens, supplemented by small mammals like lemurs and tenrecs, and reptiles such as chameleons and snakes. It forages by ambushing prey from a hidden perch within dense forest cover.
This formidable goshawk is diurnal, but often remains elusive, perching inconspicuously within the forest canopy, awaiting unsuspecting prey. It employs a classic ambush foraging strategy, launching a swift stoop from a hidden perch to snatch prey from the ground or amidst dense foliage, utilizin...
The Henst's Goshawk is exclusively endemic to Madagascar, where its distribution is closely tied to the remaining forest cover across the island. It is most frequently found in the humid evergreen rainforests stretching along the eastern escarpment, from the northern tip to the southeastern lowla...
Near Threatened
- The Henst's Goshawk is the largest extant raptor endemic to Madagascar, dominating its forest ecosystem as a top avian predator. - Its scientific name, *Astur henstii*, honors the Belgian naturalist A. Van Henst, who collected the type specimen. - This powerful raptor is known to prey on other ...