Black sparrowhawks return year after year to raise chicks
With a wingspan of 1m and measuring around 50cm tall, the black sparrowhawk is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
DURBAN is home to many different species of birds of prey. One species that seem most tolerant of urban sprawl is the black sparrowhawk.
Avid nature photogapher, Warren Dick, knows of a pair of sparrowhawks that nest and successfully raise their chicks at the Old Fort Chapel in the middle of the CBD.
Also read: Bird of the week: Familiar chat
According to him the biggest key to this bird’s success is probably due to its diet consisting mostly of doves and pigeons, which are often chased down and caught mid-air. “There are few sights that are more thrilling for me to watch than watching these birds hunt,” said Dick.
This is one of the largest species of sparrowhawk found in the world, measuring around 50cm tall, with a wingspan of 1m. The adults are mostly black in colour, with some white on the chest; this can vary dramatically between different individuals. Juveniles are a sandy brown colour with black specks.
These birds mate for life and will also come back to the same nest, year after year to raise a new batch of chicks. “I have noted breeding to take place in Durban between June and August, however, they can breed at any time of the year,” Dick added.
The nest is made in a tall tree, usually with a healthy canopy. Nests can be up to 36m off the ground and can measure more than 70cm in diameter.
Typically two to four eggs are laid with the female doing most of the incubating. The male will, however, take over after hunting for a meal for the female. The eggs hatch after 34 to 38 days. The time it takes between egg laying and juvenile independence can be up to five months.
Contact Dick to have some of your interesting spiders, snakes or other wildlife identified. Call or send him a WhatsApp message on 072 211 0353.
For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
