Lizard Buzzard
Kaupifalco monogrammicus
Woodland. Upperparts, upper chest grey; underparts banded. Black throat-stripe; red cere and legs; bold white band on black tail.
Buzzards
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Fairly common resident. A small, stocky grey hawk resembling an Accipiter, but distinguished by diagnostic white throat with vertical black streak and one (rarely two) bold white tail-band. Immature more buffy above and below, throat-streak less clear. The call is a whistling ‘klioo-klu-klu-klu’, uttered regularly while perched; also a ringing ‘peeeeo’. Occurs in broad-leaved woodland, mixed bushveld and well-treed farmlands. Often perches partially concealed in the canopy of a tree, but also conspicuously on telephone poles or dead trees where it scans the area before making a fast diving strike onto prey. Nomadic in movement, during winter months moves to more arid areas. Feeding on lizards, snakes and insects. 0,2-0,5 g.
Quick Facts
Size
35-37 cm - M
Names
A: Akkedisvalk
Z: usozi
Ss: Fiolo Ya Mokgodutswane
G: Sperberbussard
Bird Family
Large, soaring hawks about the size of a small eagle. They are robustly built with fairly large, rounded heads, small aquiline bills, large ceres, unfeathered lower legs and moderately long and rounded wings. Their tails appear rounded when spread.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Occurs in 'broad-leaved woodland', mixed bushveld and well-treed farmlands.
