Madagascar cuckoo-hawk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madagascar cuckoo-hawk
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Aviceda
Species:	A. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Aviceda madagascariensis (Smith, 1834)
Range
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The Madagascar cuckoo-hawk (Aviceda madagascariensis) is a special type of bird of prey. People also call it the Madagascar baza or the Madagascan cuckoo falcon. This bird belongs to the Accipitridae family, which includes eagles and hawks. It lives only on the island of Madagascar.

What Does the Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk Look Like?

Adult Madagascar cuckoo-hawks have dark brown feathers on their backs. Their heads are a bit lighter brown. Their lower backs are off-white.

Their undersides are white. The chest and upper belly have many brown streaks. These streaks become thinner on the sides.

The tail has two thin, light-colored stripes and a light tip. The feathers under its wings have strong brown stripes. The main flight feathers have wide, dark bands underneath.

When the bird is resting, it has a short crest. This crest sticks up from the back of its head. Young cuckoo-hawks are darker than adults. They have white tips on their dark back feathers.

Both male and female birds are about the same size. They are about 300 mm (12 inches) long. Their wings can spread up to 850 mm (33 inches) wide.

Where Does the Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk Live?

This bird lives only in Madagascar. It is quite common in the west, north, and east parts of the island.

However, you won't see it as often in the south. It is also uncommon on the Central Plateau of Madagascar.

What Kind of Home Does It Like?

The Madagascar cuckoo-hawk lives in many types of forests. This includes areas with coconut and other palm trees grown for business.

You can find this bird from sea level up to about 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) high. They are often seen at the edges of forests or in open areas. Sometimes, they even fly into towns.

They tend to avoid very dense forests. They also stay away from the driest areas. You won't find them in deforested parts of the south or the central plateau.

How Does the Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk Behave?

The Madagascar cuckoo-hawk spends much of its day sitting on a perch. From there, it looks for food. It mainly eats insects and lizards. It also hunts other small animals.

Chameleons and geckoes are a big part of its diet. But it also eats baby birds from nests. Larger insects, like locusts, are also on its menu.

This bird is most active early in the morning and late in the evening. It doesn't seem to soar high in the sky very often. You will usually see it flying between groups of trees. Its flight involves deep wing flaps followed by glides.

The cuckoo-hawk builds its nest and raises its young in November and December. One nest was found at the top of a 14-meter (46-foot) tall tree. This tree was in a damaged forest area next to a marsh.