Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk (Aviceda madagascariensis)

About Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk (Aviceda madagascariensis)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Birds
• Order: Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies
• Family: Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Little is known about the reproductive behaviors of Madagascan cuckoo-hawks due to a lack of studies and banding efforts, especially in tropical species. Large territories make it difficult to observe raptor behavior and many raptors will avoid their nest area when an observer is present.  Males are believed to attract mates with a soaring display of tumbling courtship flight and holding wings high while rocking. Displaying has been seen in September with flights straight above the canopy, then the male tilts sideways with a wing flutter. Similar species of Accipitridae are thought to be monogamous.

Mating System: monogamous

There is little data on reproduction in this species. Madagascan cuckoo-hawks are solitary birds, except during breeding season when they are paired with a mate. They lay two to three eggs from October to December. Nesting activity has been observed in November and December; flimsy nests are built high in the canopy and lined with leaves. A nest was observed at 14 m in a tree crown. As with other bazas, incubation probably takes about thirty two days and fledging about five weeks. Sexual maturity typically takes two years in related raptors.

Breeding interval: Breeding intervals in Madagascan cuckoo-hawks are not known.

Breeding season: Nesting has been observed in November and December; eggs are laid from October to December.

Range eggs per season: 1 to 4.

Average time to hatching: 32 days.

Average fledging age: 5 weeks.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous

There is little information on Madagascan cuckoo-hawk parental investment. Both parents contribute to caring for offspring that they incubate and care for through fledgling, which occurs at about 5 weeks after hatching. Pairs have been seen feeding insects to young in nests.

Parental Investment: precocial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Male, Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female)

The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors