Long-tailed hawk
| Long-tailed hawk | |
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| File:Long-tailed Hawk - Bobiri - Ghana 14 S4E3156.jpg | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | |
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| Genus: |
Urotriorchis
Sharpe, 1874
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| Species: |
U. macrourus
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| Binomial name | |
| Urotriorchis macrourus (Hartlaub, 1855)
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The long-tailed hawk (Urotriorchis macrourus) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. It is the only member of the genus Urotriorchis.[2]
This hawk inhabits the tropical rainforests of western and central Africa. It has a wingspan of 81–90 centimetres (32–35 in) and a total length of 56–65 centimetres (22–26 in), including the tail of 30–37 centimetres (12–15 in).[2] Females are about 15% larger than males.[2] Since the tail comprises about 56% of this raptor's total length, this species ties with the cinereous harrier as the raptor with the longest tail relative to its body size.[2]
The long-tailed hawk primarily eats squirrels and small birds; it can also hunt chickens in the villages close to the forest. It kills prey by breaking the neck.
The mating season occurs in July and August, when the pair build a nest on a high tree. Little is known regarding nesting and breeding the young.
Etymology
"Uro-" is from the Greek "tail",[3] and "triorchis" meant a kind of hawk thought to have three testicles—for further details see Eutriorchis. "Macro-" is from the Greek for "long",[3] so macrourus means "long-tailed", as in the English name.
References
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