Forest Buzzard

Buteo trizonatus

Near ThreatenedRareVertebratesForestPlatform nestLarge · 568 g

About the Forest Buzzard

The forest buzzard is a species of bird of prey found in Africa, though some authorities have placed it as a subspecies of another species, the mountain buzzard, Buteo oreophilus. This is a resident breeding species in woodlands in southern and eastern South Africa.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The forest buzzard is very similar to the abundant summer migrant steppe buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus, the head, the back and upperwings are brown, marked out with rufous edges to the feathers the amount of which varies between individuals. The chin is whitish and unmarked, the breast and belly are whitish but marked with a variable amount of brown spots, and the undertail coverts are plain whitish.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Lesotho.

When to see it

Peak activity in December · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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