This is Bird Note, two different hawks that live on opposite sides of the world have evolved

an identical and outlandish ability.

The first is the Crane Hawk of Central and South America.

It's named after the tall, statuesque birds called cranes because of its long, slim,

gangly legs.

Even like most birds' legs, the Crane hawks are adapted to bend both forward and backward.

This rare trait, known as reversible tarsis, is something we might call being double-jointed.

On the far side of the Atlantic, there's a second long-legged and double-jointed bird

of prey, the African Harrier Hawk.

As hawks go, the two are only distantly related, but similar animals in similar environments

can sometimes evolve similar traits.

Each bird's wonderfully peculiar leg adaptation is completely original.

It evolved all on its own, even though the solution at the end of all that experimentation

ended up being the same.

Scientists call this process convergent evolution.

Both hawks are experts in capturing prey that other raptors find too elusive.

Their long, double-jointed legs allow them to reach into crevices or holes and swipe

back and forth at odd angles to snatch their prey.

Two hawks, two continents, and one amazing solution.

For Bird Note, I'm Mary McCann.