Bat Hawk

Introduction: Bat hawks (Macheiramphus alcinus) eat bats and other birds. They are strong and brave and roost in similar habitats to many bats such as caves, old mine shafts or baobab trees. Bat hawks are active at dawn and dusk, remaining largely inactive between times. Pale-barked trees that offer shade and protection are favoured for roosting purposes.

Distribution: Etosha National Park, Caprivi with extreme sightings in other regions of northern Namibia.

Diet: Mainly eats insectivorous bats such Schreibers's long-fingered bat, Rüppells bat, Cape serotine bat, yellow house-bat, slit-faced bats and Geoffroy's serotine bat amongst others. They also take swifts, swallows, doves, starlings, canaries and waxbills.

Description: Bat hunters with characteristic short bills that have a very wide gape which allows them to swallow bats in flight. Other features include large eyes, a predominately dark brown plumage, with short crest and long, narrow and pointed wings.

Breeding: Nest are made from pale bark in branches of trees, which is thought to aid nest location at night. The large stick structure is lined with green leaves. Only 1 or 2 eggs are laid any time between August and February.

Size: 45cm.

Weight: 650g.