Augur Buzzard

Overview

The Buteo augur is a fairly large African bird of prey belonging to the Buteo genus. It is a resident, non-migratory species found across central and southern Africa, classified on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern.

Identification

• Adults are strikingly plumaged with an almost black-brown back, white underparts, and a rufous tail that stands out strongly in contrast.
• Juveniles are mainly brown above and rufous-brown below, with bolder carpal patches and more clearly barred secondaries than juvenile jackal buzzards.
• A melanistic morph, accounting for about 10% of the population, is all-black except for barred grey and white flight feathers and a chestnut tail.
• The call is a harsh, resonant crow-like 'a-kow a-kow a-kow' that draws out to a higher-pitched 'a-waaa a-waaa a-waaa' during aerial displays.

Habitat

Found from eastern Sudan and Ethiopia to southern Angola and central Namibia, this species inhabits open or light-wooded upland areas. It typically occurs at altitudes between 1,500 m and 4,600 m, though it can range from sea level in lowland deserts to 5,000 m in mountains. It often occupies elevated savannah grasslands, high open moorland, and inland cliffs, and is generally adaptable to human-modified landscapes.

Diet

As a generalist predator, it catches prey on the ground by still-hunting from a perch, swooping from soaring flight, or occasionally hovering. Its primary foods include small terrestrial mammals, such as rats and mole-rats, and reptiles, chiefly snakes and lizards. The diet is supplemented by small ground birds, insects, and occasionally road-kill.

Did you know?

The Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League use an augur buzzard named Taima as a live mascot at their games. Additionally, in forested areas with high rainfall, the proportion of melanistic birds can rise to as much as 50%.