The Dark Chanting Goshawk which is scientifically known as the Melierax metabates, is a bird of prey that is found dwelling much in the sub Saharan Africa and the Southern Arabia. This bird species is an Aqccipitridae family which is isolated in Southern Morocco and declining in population.

Physical description of the Dark Chanting Goshawk

Dark Chanting Goshawk is characterised with a medium sized body which has a bulky hawk along with a stance that is upright. This bird species features a dark grey upperparts plus the head and breast hence having whitish underparts which are barred finely with a black colour other than the breast.

The Dark Chanting Goshawk comprises of the primary wings that are black in colour and a broad black coloured tail having white bars. This bird species is also characterised with the orange-red long legs and cere.

On average, the female Dark Chanting Goshawk is larger than the male Chanting Goshawk species. It features a mass weight of up to 840 grams while the male weighing up to 700 grams.

Juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawk bird species comprises of the browner layer of feathers which is reminiscent in colour with pattern to a buzzard buteo hence having a wing that is broad along with long tailed silhouette of an accipiter.

Behaviour of the Dark Chanting Goshawk

This bird species is a vocal type of bird as its suggests. The Dark Chanting Goshwak often calls while making flight displays or from a perch hence uttering fluty whistles and an accelerating piping notes series  peeu-peeu-pu-pu-pu, which has been outlined as chant or song. During the breeding season, it gives a high pitched peee-u which is more vocalic than in the normal days.

Dark Chanting Goshawk inhabits the open woodlands and Savannahs which favours broad-leafed woodlands and mixed bushveld. This bird species also dwells in and well developed woodlands which are found in the Southern Africa.

The Dark Chanting Goshawk species breeds in East Africa where its replaced by the Eastern Chanting Goshawk.

During the hunting period, the Goshawk species feeds on a variety of animals which includes reptiles, birds and  mammals. It swoops from a perch to capture its prey in the air or ground hence also preys on honey badgers, hornibills, helmeted guinefowls and the dwarf mongoose.

Breeding and reproduction process of the Dark Chanting Goshawk

During the breeding period, this bird species tends to be a territorial nester which performs courtship display involving both parties. While in courtship, the male Dark Chanting Goshawk dives repeatedly at the female bird species who brings her claws to the male.

The breeding nest is constructed by both partners which is a flat platform arranged by sticks, decorated with spider webs, slightly lower at the center than the edges, cemented with mud  and placed high in a tree.

When the reproduction process reaches in the months of July to November, the female Dark Chanting Goshawk species lays a maximum of three eggs. This reproduction period peaks from August to October where the laid eggs are incubated for a period of 36 to 38 days by the female as the male takes care of her by bring food at the nest.

The chicks are guarded and brooded by the female as the male hunts for them what to eat hence fledging of the young ones happens at about 50 days old after incubation and do gain full independence at about 3 to 8 months after fledging process has occured.