Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

Afrikaans name: Bleeksingvalk

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

Photo © EcoView - Fotolia.com

Melierax canorus

The Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk is found over most of South Africa excluding the eastern region and the extreme south-west.

It is quite common in the western half of South Africa. It prefers drier areas with some trees and open areas that provide ideal hunting grounds.

The 'Chanting' part of their common name comes from the musical call of the male during the breeding season.

They feed on smaller mammals up to the size of a rabbit and will take most birds. Insects, lizards, frogs and baby tortoises are also on its menu.

Male Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks are fiercely territorial and will defend their territories against intrusion by other males. Some males, however, recruit another male as an assistant who helps with activities related to breeding and may even, on rare occasions, mate with the female.

The nest is built by the pair, perhaps with an assistant male, in a suitable tree or structure such as a pylon. Either one or two eggs are laid and are attended to by both parents. Youngsters stay in the parents territories for approximately a year.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	165	Melierax musicus
2nd	165	Melierax musicus
3rd	165	Melierax canorus
4th	165	Melierax canorus
5th	162	Melierax canorus
6th	162	Melierax canorus
7th	373	Melierax canorus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	165	Cape Chanting Goshawk
2nd	165	Chanting Goshawk
3rd	165	Chanting Goshawk
4th	165	Chanting Goshawk
5th	162	Pale Chanting Goshawk
6th	162	Pale Chanting Goshawk
7th	373	Pale Chanting Goshawk

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	165	Groot-witvalk
2nd	165	Groot Witvalk
3rd	165	Groot Witvalk
4th	165	Groot Witvalk
5th	162	Bleeksingvalk
6th	162	Bleeksingvalk
7th	373	Bleeksingvalk

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 56

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 11

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 65

The Status & Conservation of Birds of Prey in the Transvaal - Author: W. Tarboton and D. Allan - Published: 1984 - Page: 85

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 155

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 108

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 116

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 85

Sasol Birds of Prey of Africa and its Islands - Author: Alan and Meg Kemp - Published: 1998 - Page: 150

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 142

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 146

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 117

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 87

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 109

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 178

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 152

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 84

Know your Birds of Prey - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 30

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 178

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 44

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 58

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 13

Eagles, Hawks & Falcons of the World - Author: Leslie Brown and Dean Amadon - Published: 1989 - Page: 410

Everyone s Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 103

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 142

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 1 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 14

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 60

Birds of Prey of the World - Author: Friedhelm Weick - Published: 1980 - Page: 90

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 88

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa - Author: Peter Steyn - Published: 1985 - Page: 183

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 62

An Introduction to the Birds of Prey of South Africa - Author: D.V. Prout-Jones - Published: 1974 - Page: 116

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 134

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 134

African Birds of Prey - Author: Leslie Brown - Published: 1970 - Page: 88

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 79

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List of South African Birds