Madagascar sparrowhawk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Madagascar sparrowhawk |
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| Conservation status | |
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Accipiter
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| Species: |
madagascariensis
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The Madagascar sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis) is a cool bird of prey that lives in Madagascar. It belongs to the family Accipitridae, which includes many types of hawks and eagles. This special bird is found only in Madagascar, meaning it's endemic there. It lives in different kinds of forests, like dry forests, wet lowland forests, and mountain forests. You can also find it in dry grasslands called savannas and areas with shrubs. Sadly, its home is shrinking because of habitat loss.
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Where They Live
The Madagascar sparrowhawk lives on the island of Madagascar. You can also find some of these birds on the Comoro Islands. These islands are about 300 miles away from Madagascar across the ocean.
Scientists believe there are between 3,300 and 6,700 adult Madagascar sparrowhawks in the wild. Because their numbers are not very high, the IUCN (a group that tracks wildlife) listed them as "near threatened" in August 2018. This means they could become endangered if their situation doesn't improve.
These birds can live from sea level up to about 1,500 meters high. However, they usually stay below 1,000 meters. Their homes include rainforests in the east of Madagascar, forests that lose their leaves in the west, and spiny forests in the southwest.
What They Eat
The Madagascar sparrowhawk is a skilled hunter. It mostly eats other small birds, which make up about 97% of its diet! Some common birds it hunts include the Madagascar Black Bulbul, the Madagascar Partridge, and the Madagascar Turtle-Dove.
Besides birds, they also eat insects, frogs, and sometimes small reptiles. The sparrowhawk hunts by hiding quietly on low branches in the forest. When it spots its prey, it quickly flies out to catch it.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Madagascar sparrowhawks usually lay three eggs during their breeding season. This happens in October and November. The female bird sits on the eggs to keep them warm, a process called incubation, for about 35 days. Sometimes, these birds will use the same nest for several breeding seasons.
After the eggs hatch, the young birds grow up quickly. They are usually ready to leave the nest when they are about 37 days old. They become fully independent from their parents when they are around 60 to 67 days old. These birds can live for up to 7 years. They do not migrate, meaning they stay in the same area all year round.
Appearance and Subspecies
There were once three different types, or subspecies, of the Madagascar sparrowhawk found on the Comoro Islands. These were the Anjouan sparrowhawk, the Mayotte sparrowhawk, and the Sensu Palmer sparrowhawk.
One interesting thing about Madagascar sparrowhawks is how different the males and females look. Male birds have blue-grey stomachs, wings, and backs. They also have a little bit of orange on their chests. Female birds, on the other hand, have brown or black chests and wings. The male and female subspecies from the Comoro Islands had even more unique patterns that made them stand out.
Sadly, the Sensu Palmer sparrowhawk subspecies has been extinct since 1972.
Threats to Their Survival
The biggest threat to the Madagascar sparrowhawk is the loss of its habitat. This happens because people cut down trees for logging and to collect wood. Because of this, the number of Madagascar sparrowhawks has been decreasing.
