Madagascan Serpent Eagle
Madagascar Snake hawk ( Eutriorchis astur )
The Madagascar Serpent Goshawk ( Eutriorchis astur ) or snake hawk is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, and the only member of the genus Eutriorchis. It is endemic to the rain forests in northeastern Madagascar, where he is mostly to be found at altitudes from 400 to 1000 m. The type was missing since 1930 and was considered extinct, but was rediscovered in 1990.
Description
The Madagascar Serpent hawk is similar in shape and color of a large representative of Accipiter ( genus Accipiter ). It reaches a body length of 57-66 cm. The wingspan is 98-110 cm. The head is decorated with a discreet, deployable hood. The gray-brown upper surface shows a dark banding, which is especially noticeable on the shoulders. The underside is white and also shows a dense, dark cross bands. The long, brown, rounded tail has five to seven black transverse bands. The iris is yellow. The legs are bright yellow and have a rough and gnarled by the very strong squamation. The beak is black. The blades are relatively short and rounded.
Vocalizations
In contrast to other, very hidden life, the calls are very striking and typical. The "singing" is a loud, far -carrying " wääh ... wääh .. waäh ", often followed by a quieter " UUG ".
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the northeast of Madagascar. She lives there untouched rainforests in 0-1200 m above sea level, probably mainly at altitudes of 400 to 1000 m. The overall range of the species is estimated to be only 16.6 thousand km ².
Nutrition
His name probably goes back to old stories in which he is said to have killed large, poisonous snakes. The name is rather inappropriate, snakes appear to play only a very minor role in the prey spectrum. In the only previously observed hatching was 83 percent of the loot from chameleons and geckos, another 16 percent were frogs. Only two snakes were fed, also a bat. Reports on the Capture of lemurs and chickens most likely based on confusion with the Madagascar Goshawk ( Accipiter henstii ), which occurs in the same habitat and he is very similar.
Reproduction
The only nest that you have found so far was in an epiphytic fern on a tree about 20 meters high. The nest was a bebrütetes egg, the young bird hatched on 21 November after a breeding period of probably about 40 days. The nestling period was 62 days and the young bird was cared for until the age of six weeks from both parents.
Rediscovery and hazard
The species was known until the early 1990s, only 10 collected 1874-1930 copies and was considered lost since then and probably extinct. In 1990, a fresh carcass of a snake hawk in Ambatovaky reserve was found. In 1997, so far only the discovery of a nest. The Madagascar Serpent hawk is obviously very shy and cautious and therefore very easy to miss. The verifications succeed best by the distinctive calls. 1993-1998 15 individuals were observed at nine different localities. It comes in the following protected areas before: Ambatovaky Special Reserve, Anjanaharibe - South Special Reserve, Mantadia National Park and Analamazaotra Special Reserve, Marojejy National Park, Marotandrano Special Reserve, Masoala National Park, Sihanaka Forest, Tsaratanana Strict Nature Reserve, Upper Rantabe Classified Forest and Zahamena National Park.
The stock is currently estimated to be 250 to 1000 individuals. The main risk persecution, destruction of forests by burning and uncontrolled forest fires arable land reclamation apply. If the clearing of virgin forests will continue in northeastern Madagascar, with a renewed disappearance of this species can be expected within a few decades.