This blog post features a series of shots of a juvenie Eastern Chanting Goshawk as it takes off from a perch. The take-off direction was not optimal for a clear view of the head in the last two frames but I am showing them anyway because I do not often have an opportunity to photograph Goshawks in flight in Tanzania.
The photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D E-M1X camera with a 300mm f/4 IS Pro Lens and 1.4x teleconverter attached. Settings were 1/1600 sec at f/8, ISO 1250 except the ISO was 1600 for photo #2.
The Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus) preys on small birds, rodents, lizards, and insects. They have a strong beak and powerful talons.
Eastern Chanting Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus)
The "chanting" part of the common name is based on the male's habit of making a series of melodic whistles while perched at the top of a tree or pole during the breeding season. Scientific name - Melierax the Greek “melos” = song and “hierax” = hawk whilst poliopterus refers to the colour of this bird : “polios” = grey, “pteron” = wing. Source
The adult bird measures 56 - 65 cm in length (including the tail), has a wingspan of about 105 cm, and has a red iris. (This is a juvenile and the iris is yellow).
