Animalia Life
Aviceda madagascariensis
SUBFAMILY
Accipitrinae
TAXONOMY
Pernis madagascariensis A. Smith, 1834, Madagascar. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Madagascar baza, Madagascar cuckoo-falcon; French:
Baza malgache; German: Lemurenweih; Spanish: Baza Malgache.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
15.7–17.7 in (40–45 cm). Dull brown wings, barred tail, mottled
brown and white underparts.
DISTRIBUTION
Much of Madagascar.
HABITAT
Evergreen and dry deciduous forest interior and edge; clearings
in forest, villages within forest and palm plantations.
BEHAVIOR
Poorly known. Apparently non-migratory. By night, roosts in
the canopy. Hunts by day and, perhaps, crepuscularly.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Main prey is large insects and small reptiles and frogs snatched
from foliage. Perches in canopy to glide down onto prey;
sometimes flies low over canopy in search of prey or hawks
aerial insects.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Little known. Distinctive rocking with wings held high and
tumbling courtship flight. Breeds in solitary pairs, laying in
October to December. Builds small, flimsy nest lined with
green leaves, high in the canopy. Clutch size unknown, probably
two to three eggs. Incubation probably about 32 days and
fledging about five weeks as in other Bazas.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Fairly common in forested areas but deforestation
an increasing threat.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.
Photo Gallery of - Madagascar cuckoo-hawk
