Cape Urban African Harrier-Hawk Project | FitzPatrick Institute, UCT

Africa's most familiar stranger

The African Harrier-Hawk, or Gymnogene, is one of the more distinctive and prominent raptors in Cape Town however not a lot is known about this charismatic bird. In fact, very little has been published on how it actually lives.

In Cape Town the bird seems to be doing well. Pairs appear to nest through the southern suburbs, hunt across gardens and greenbelts, and turn up in places as busy as the city centre. That is interesting as most large raptors thin out as cities develop. This project sets out to understand what enables the African Harrier-Hawk to seemingly thrive here.

Adult African Harrier-Hawk hanging upside down at a pole cavity with one leg reaching inside

What we want to find out

As much as possible! We're particularly interested in its breeding habits, diet and general behaviour (hunting, interaction with other birds). So finding nests will an important starting point. A known nest gives us a fixed location to observe the birds and its behaviour. Getting lots of observation points over Cape Town will help us to figure out where the nests are.

African Harrier-Hawk at a stick nest in the fork of a gum tree

Breeding and nest sites Which trees they pick and how high. When pairs lay, how long they sit, and whether city birds breed earlier or later than birds outside it.

Immature African Harrier-Hawk standing on a roof

Chick survival How many eggs are laid versus number that fledge. Rearing strategy of chicks.

Juvenile African Harrier-Hawk clambering on a palm trunk

Hunting How they work a built-up area: through canopies, into cavities, along walls, roofs and palm crowns.

Adult African Harrier-Hawk feeding on prey against a branch

Diet Weavers, starlings, pigeons and squirrels are all likely but we need to confirm.

Adult African Harrier-Hawk on a roof with wings raised, defending

Behaviour Territory size (is the size smaller in urban context compared to rural?), pair bonds, tolerance of human activity, and what the changing face colour actually signals.

Why your sightings matter

African Harrier-Hawks are surprisingly discreet given how prominent they are. Nests are difficult to find. They are stick platforms about three-quarters of a metre across, built into the main fork of a big tree and usually sitting below the canopy where nothing shows from the road.

Moreover, we cannot cover all areas of the city on foot. So we need your help!

Reports without a nest are still important. Repeat sightings in one area are the clearest sign that a pair is holding territory nearby.

A bird carrying sticks, or going in and out of the same tree
Chicks, recently fledged young, or an adult carrying food
Hunting, especially at a weaver colony or into a hole
The same bird in the same place over several days
Anything at all, if you are reasonably sure of what you saw

One thing worth knowing: The African Harrier-Hawk is not popular with the smaller birds. The Harrier-Hawks are mobbed relentlessly by the smaller birds. The African Harrier-Hawk sees this as a clue to potential nests to raid though!

Not certain it was an African Harrier-Hawk? Report it anyway with a photo or video. We would rather sort out a few misidentifications than miss a real record. The species page shows what to look for at each age.

Adult African Harrier-Hawk looking down from the fork of a tree, Constantia, Cape Town

Where we are looking

The study covers the urban areas of Cape Town and surrounds. As far north as Durbanville and down to Simon's Town. Then as far east as Kraaifontein and Eeste Rivier. That said, if you spot a sighting just outside of this area, do report it. This outlines the area we're focused on but not exlusively.

Map of the Cape Metro showing the study area boundary, from Froggy Farm north along the False Bay coast to Macassar, inland to Durbanville, west to Big Bay, then south along the Atlantic coast round Hout Bay and Kommetjie to Scarborough — Study area boundary. The map is deliberately schematic and shows no nest locations.

Nests confirmed so far

towards a first target of 10 active nests

We do not publish nest locations. The running total is all that goes public. Sadly raptor nests are vulnerable to disturbance and to people who collect eggs or shoot birds. So location data is held securely and seen only by the research team.

Report a sighting

It takes about two minutes. Date and place matter most. Photos and video are worth a great deal, because it provides us with many clues on the breeding and behaviour of the bird.

Follow the project

We post nest news without locations, behaviour clips, identification tips and photographs sent in by observers. Tag us if you get a good one.