Urotriorchis macrourus
The Long-tailed Hawk, *Urotriorchis macrourus*, is a striking and unusually proportioned raptor endemic to the dense rainforests of West and Central Africa. Reaching an impressive length of 60-70 cm (24-28 in) with a wingspan of 90-100 cm (35-39 in), nearly half of its total length is comprised of its remarkably long, slender tail, which can measure 30-37 cm (12-14.5 in). Adults exhibit a sleek, dark slate-grey to black plumage on their upperparts, contrasting sharply with clean white underpa...
This raptor primarily inhabits dense, mature tropical lowland rainforests, sometimes extending into submontane forests up to 1,400-1,800 meters in elevation.
It primarily preys on birds, often surprisingly large ones like turacos, hornbills, and pigeons, but also takes rodents, lizards, and insects, hunting from ambush within the forest canopy.
The Long-tailed Hawk is a diurnal raptor, typically spending its days within the forest canopy, often perched silently and concealed, making it notoriously difficult to observe. Its primary foraging strategy involves swift, agile pursuit of prey through the dense undergrowth and mid-canopy, launc...
The Long-tailed Hawk is a resident species distributed across the Guineo-Congolian rainforest belt of West and Central Africa. Its range extends from Sierra Leone and Liberia eastward through Ghana, Togo (rarely), Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and into the De...
Least Concern
- The Long-tailed Hawk's tail can make up nearly half of its total body length, an exceptional proportion among raptors. - It is the only species in the genus *Urotriorchis*, making it a 'monotypic' genus. - Despite its long tail, it is renowned for its incredible agility and speed while navigati...