Scientific name: Melierax gabar
Gabar Goshawk is smaller than other Goshawks. We can observe two morphs, one grey and one almost black. This melanistic form represents about 6 to 25 % of population. In typical grey morph, adult has plain grey upperparts and white rump. Tail is grey, barred with black. Underparts are plain grey on chest. Belly is white, barred with grey. Vent is white. Flight feathers are sooty-grey with very pale grey bars. Tail is white with broad dark grey bars. Head is grey. Bill is black, with red cere and gape. Eyes are deep dark red. Long bare legs and stocky toes are bright red.
In southern Africa, it is scarce to locally common in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, western Mozambique and South Africa. It generally prefers open woodland, especially dry Acacia savanna and broad-leaved woodland.
It mainly eats birds, using a hunting technique it mounts a perch concealed by vegetation. From this vantage point it can spot prey, which it then hawks aerially or ambushes on the ground; it often pursues prey over great distances. It regularly eats nestlings, ripping open nests with its beak and grabbing chicks from within.
