Jackal buzzard
| Jackal Buzzard | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Superorder | Passerimorphae |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Infraorder | Falconides |
| Family Information | |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Sub-family | Buteoninae |
| Genus Information | |
| Genus | Buteo |
| Species Information | |
| Species | B. rufofuscus |
| Population statistics | |
| Conservation status | Least concern[1] |
The jackal buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus) is a bird of prey of the family Accipitridae, and is found over much of southern Africa.
The name is based upon its call, reminiscent of that of the black-backed jackal.
Description
The jackal buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey, with a length of 16 inches, a wingspan of 53 inches, and a body weight of 2.2 pounds. The upper body, head and neck is slate gray, and from a distance the bird appears blackish. The chest is dark rufus-brown to chestnut-brown (very rarely also black or white) and bounded upwards by an irregular white band. The belly is blackish with white flecks, and the tail is reddish-brown to maroon-brown. Seen from below while in flight, the wings are dark-slate-gray to black, while the primary and secondary flight feathers are white, each feather tipped in black.
Juvenile buzzards are brown on the top with yellow-brown marks, pale rufus-brown below.
Habitat
The jackal buzzard prefers mountainous areas, where it occurs relatively frequently. It is rarely found in the lowlands. It is found in Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, southern Mozambique, and southern Botswana. It occurs singly or in pairs.
The jackal buzzard is usually observed in flight when it sails over valleys and along mountain slopes, sometimes diving or hunting acrobatically, where it is frequently confused with the much larger bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus). When at rest it is usually seen perched on high rocks (although this can be confusing at a distance), or atop telegraph poles or fence posts.
The jackal buzzard feeds on small mammals up to the size of conies, small to medium-sized birds, small reptiles, and insects. When available, road kills and carrion are also consumed.
Reproduction
The main breeding season is in August and September. The nest consists of bulky heaps of small branches and has a diameter of up to 2 feet and can be over a foot deep. As a rule, the nest is built in rocks, but also in trees, preferably in pines. One to three (usually two) calcareous red-brown speckled eggs are laid. The incubation period is about 40 days, with both parents incubating. The eggs hatch after about 50-53 days, and the larger chicks sometimes kill the smaller siblings.
