Mountain Buzzard
Buteo oreophilus
The Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) is a rare kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 9 countries, weighing about 700 g. The mountain buzzard is a bird of prey that lives in montane forests in East Africa, it and the forest buzzard of southern Africa were, until recently, considered to be a single species.
About the Mountain Buzzard
The mountain buzzard is a bird of prey that lives in montane forests in East Africa, it and the forest buzzard of southern Africa were, until recently, considered to be a single species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in South Africa.
When to see it
The Mountain Buzzard can be seen all year round, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Mountain Buzzard?
- 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. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Mountain Buzzard?
- The Mountain Buzzard is a large sized bird weighing about 700 g.
- Where can you see a Mountain Buzzard?
- The Mountain Buzzard occurs in 9 countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
- What birds look similar to a Mountain Buzzard?
- The Mountain Buzzard is most easily confused with the Red-necked Buzzard, the Madagascar Buzzard and the White-throated Hawk.
- Is the Mountain Buzzard endangered?
- The Mountain Buzzard is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Mountain Buzzard for real
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