Birds of prey, or raptors, come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all apex predators of the air. In this footage, an unfortunate snake finds itself in the clutches of a goshawk.
Lynette Pretorius shared this fascinating footage with Latest Sightings. She filmed the encounter while visiting South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Raptor on the ground
As we join Lynette at the sighting, we see a medium-sized raptor on the ground. The bird is a dark-chanting goshawk (Melierax metabates mechowi), typically found in moist grasslands and riverine bush across much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Typically found perched upright within tree canopies, the species’ diet includes small mammals, birds, and reptiles. They also follow humans, honey badgers, ground hornbills, and dogs, hoping to catch prey that their passing disturbs.
Swoop onto prey
Subsequently, it becomes evident that the bird has caught something on the ground. Their hunting technique involves swooping onto prey from their lookout point.
Initially, it is difficult to determine what the goshawk has caught. All we see is movement in the long grass at its feet.
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Spreading the mantle
When the bird spreads its wings, it further obstructs our view, preventing us from identifying the prey. We call this behaviour mantling.
Raptors mantle in order to prevent other raptors or predators from seeing what they have caught. It also makes them look bigger, further deterring interference.
Snake for a snack
Finally, the goshawk stands and moves slightly, showing it has caught some sort of snake. Depending on the size, snakes are either swallowed whole or ripped to pieces.
First, however, the snake needs to be killed. And as the snake writhes in its clutches, it seems this is easier said than done.
Unable to escape the grasp of its talons, the snake coils continuously, making it difficult for the bird to target a specific area.
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Death blow misses
After several tries, the goshawk finally manages to bite the snake’s head. As you’d expect, this is most likely to deliver a death blow.
However, as the snake continues to writhe, it is clear that the bird’s sharp, hooked bill didn’t penetrate the brain.
Still, the bird is not deterred. The snake will make a sizeable meal, so it is worth taking its time. When finally dead, the bird would use its sharp bill to pull off strips.
Where to find them
People often confuse dark- and pale-chanting goshawks. Within South Africa, the dark variety inhabits the moist northeast (Kruger National Park). Pale-chanting goshawks inhabit the drier west and central regions, with very little overlap in their ranges.
Also, if it perches within the canopy, it is a dark-chanting, whereas if it perches on top of the tree, it is a pale-chanting. And, as their name suggests, the plumage of the dark-chanting goshawk is significantly darker than its pale relative.
