Bird Guide

Mountain Buzzard vs White-throated Hawk

Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus)

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Large700 gForest

A small buzzard and quite similar to the steppe buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus, the migratory subspecies of the Palearctic common buzzard which winters over most of Africa. The adult has brown upperparts with paler underparts with heavy brown blotches on the breast, belly, flanks and underwing coverts. The underside of the flight feathers is barred with a distinct black band along the rear edge of the wing. The tail is brown above, light grey below and shows faint narrow bars which are broadest just before the tail tip. Juveniles are buffier below and less heavily marked than the adults.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: avocat · CC BY 4.0
White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula)

White-throated Hawk

Buteo albigula

Large525 gForest

The white-throated hawk is 38 to 48 cm (15 to 19 in) long with an 84 to 102 cm (33 to 40 in) wingspan. Females are up to 20% larger than males and both sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a brownish black face and upperparts. Their tail has a dark brown upper surface and a grayish lower surface with up to 10 narrow dark bands. Their chin, throat, and underparts are white with brown streaking on the breast and belly and rufous barring on the thighs. Their eye is brown and their cere, legs, and feet yellow. Voice: The white-throated hawk is thought to be mostly silent. It does make a "squealing 'kee-ah' during breeding season".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dr. R.A. Philippi · Public domain

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Mountain Buzzard and White-throated Hawk.