Brahmin consecration
| Brahmin consecration | ||||||||||
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Brahmin consecration ( Haliastur indus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Haliastur indus | ||||||||||
| ( Boddaert , 1783) |
The Brahmin Weih ( Haliastur indus ) is a medium-sized bird of prey from the hawk-like family (Accipitridae). The species inhabits large parts of the Indian subcontinent , Southeast Asia , New Guinea, and the east and north of Australia . It is tied to coasts for the most part of the distribution area.
description
Brahmin harriers are medium-sized birds of prey with a strong, slightly stocky trunk, a small head, relatively short and wide wings, a medium-long, rounded tail and short but strong legs and toes. The body length is 44–52 cm, of which 18–22 cm are on the tail. The span is 110–125 cm. Females are on average 3–7% larger than males, otherwise the sexes do not differ. Females of the nominate form have a wing length of 379–403 mm, males reach 359–394 mm. There are hardly any details available to date on the weight of the nominate form; Females of the subspecies H. i. girrenera weigh 434–673 g, males of this subspecies 409–610 g.
In adult birds of the nominate form, the head, neck, chest and upper abdomen are white with a more or less distinct, fine, dark longitudinal stripe. The back, upper wing coverts, the upper side of the arm wings, the upper side of the inner wing wing and the basal half of the outer wing wing, the small and middle lower wing coverts, the lower abdomen and the leg fletching are dark rust-red. The distal half of the outer hand wings is black above and below. The tail is also predominantly rust-red on the upper side, but shows a pale rust-colored end band. The underside of the tail and wings, as well as the large under wing coverts, are pale rust-colored and thus form a clear contrast to the dark rust-colored areas.
The iris is dark brown, rarely dark red-brown. The wax skin is variable pale yellow, whitish or pale blue, the beak is usually pale yellow to greenish yellow with a bluish base. The legs and toes are cream, pale yellow, or greenish yellow; the claws are black.
The youth dress differs significantly from that of the adult birds in terms of color and drawing. Overall, the birds are almost monochrome, dark blackish gray-brown. The head, neck and the underside of the trunk are spotted and dashed lighter brown. The distal bases of the hand wings are black as in the adult birds, but the tips of the inner hand wings are also black. The wings and tail are monochrome gray-brown below, the basal parts of the wings are pale light beige. The iris and legs are colored like the adult birds. The wax skin is whitish, the beak is dark gray with a lighter base. The birds wear the adult dress after one year.
Vocalizations
Calls can almost only be heard at the breeding site. Here a sloping, meowing or bleaking call is most often uttered, which sounds like " piiii-jääh " in an aggressive mood, two-syllable moaning, loud and harsh . Occasionally a whistle is uttered.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Brahmin consecration includes large parts of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, New Guinea as well as the east and north of Australia.
The species is tied to all kinds of tropical coasts for the most part of its range. In parts of the area, especially in the area of the Indian subcontinent and from the Great Sunda Islands to New Guinea, the species also inhabits inland aquatic habitats such as rivers, lakes, swamps, rice fields and the like. Furthermore, urban rubbish dumps are also used and some populations hunt over lowlands of all kinds up to open grasslands or forests far away from water. The species occurs predominantly from sea level up to about 500 m height, in the Himalayas up to 1800 m and on the Great Sunda Islands up to 3000 m.
Hunting style and diet
The search for food takes place mainly in low gliding or rowing flight over water or land, but also often from a hide; less often on foot. Occasionally the animals parasitize on other small birds of prey, seagulls or terns. The diet is very variable; the essential food components are often very different depending on the population. On the one hand, the Brahmin consecration feeds on carrion of all kinds such as leftovers and waste from fishing, dead or sick fish , road victims and similar small carrion; On the other hand, it is rarely found on larger cadavers used by vultures. In addition, a lot of living prey is hunted, especially small fish and insects, but also crustaceans, small amphibians and reptiles as well as mostly sick or injured small mammals and birds.
Reproduction
Courting males show short wave flights with swoops over 30 to 100 m downwards and then ascent again above the breeding site. The pair balz consists primarily of the regular circling of one or both partners and mutual wave flights, and calls are also made. The breeding season of the Brahmin consecration is very different in the large distribution area depending on the geographical location of the occurrence, in large parts of the area it falls during the respective dry season. It falls in India from December to June, in continental Southeast Asia and Borneo from January to July and in the Philippines from February to July. In the area of the equator on Java and Sulawesi , breeding takes place all year round, with an accumulation from May to October. In Australia, reproduction takes place in the north from April to October, further south from July to December.
The nest is usually built in trees, the type of trees and the height of the nest above the ground depend on the available offer. Human structures such as ruins, lighthouses or electricity pylons are rarely used to create nests. The nests, which were not built very carefully, consist of branches, grass, algae and debris. The hollow is covered with twigs and near civilization with wool, rags and similar garbage, in more natural habitats with grass, leaves, pieces of bark, lichen and leftover food such as bones and the like. New nests often only have a diameter of 30 cm, old and repeatedly used nests can reach a diameter of 70–75 cm and be 15–20 cm high.
The clutch consists of 1–4, mostly 2 eggs, which are incubated for 28–35 days. The young birds fly out after 40–56 days and are independent after about two months.
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hikes
The species is essentially a resident bird , regionally, Brahmin harriers roam depending on droughts or rainfall. Birds in the higher elevations of the Himalayas seek lower elevations in winter. Young birds show an undirected migration from their parents' territories.
Existence and endangerment
There is no reliable information on the world population , the IUCN gives a rough estimate of 100,000–1,000,000 individuals. Despite regional population declines, the IUCN classifies the species as harmless overall.
swell
literature
- J. Ferguson-Lees, DA Christie: Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, 2001: pp. 108-109 and 387-390. ISBN 0-7136-8026-1
Individual evidence
- ^ J. Ferguson-Lees, DA Christie: Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London, 2001. ISBN 0-7136-8026-1 : p. 390.
Web links
- Haliastur indus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed on December 9 of 2008.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Haliastur indus in the Internet Bird Collection