12. African Harrier-Hawk This interesting bird is also called, and more commonly perhaps, a ‘Gymnogene’. The dictionary is not very helpful on this: “name used for an African Harrier-Hawk; etymology unknown.” Taxonomically, it is somewhat out on a limb of its own: a bit like a harrier and a bit like a hawk. But it’s African all right, a resident and pretty widespread south of the Sahara. The smallish head and bare yellow skin around the eyes and large bill give it a vulturine look. They like forests and woodland, but also grasslands: they’re not much into mountains and deserts. It cruises around on its broad wings, low and looking for food. But it also hunts on its feet on the ground, looking loosely put together and rather floppy, as if wearing pyjamas some sizes too big. Unusually, they have long double-jointed legs allowing them to bend both ways, useful for grabbing small creatures hiding in rock crevices or young birds cowering in nests. They will hang from the thin branch below the weavers’ nests, reaching deep inside the tubular entrance tunnels which are meant to keep such predators out, calmly scooping out nestlings, while the agitated parents scream ineffectually. Birds of AFRICAMA House 29