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Augur Buzzard | Buteo augur
The Augur Buzzard is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Accipitridae bird family group which includes birds such as Raptors, Old Vultures, Osprey. The description for the Augur Buzzard (Latin name Buteo augur) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Buteo augur can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 153 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 525. You will find a picture of the Augur Buzzard on page 480. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Augur Buzzard between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition The Augur Buzzard is known in Afrikaans as Witborsjakkalsvo?l. The Augur Buzzard has a height of 55 cms and weighs around 1000 gms. The head is coloured black while the bill is coloured black. The Buteo augur has a white coloured throat, yellow legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is black Eyes are brown Bill is black Legs are yellow Throat is white Back is brown Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground The Buteo augur attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten This bird hunts for small reptiles such as lizards, geckos and bush snakes. The Augur Buzzard strikes poisonous snakes on the head with one fatal blow which kills the snake instantly. There have been cases were this bird has been killed by a snake while hunting. Some birds have been blinded by Cobra venom. This bird is a well known scavenger and rarely kills its own prey. The diet includes small mammals such as rabbits, field mice and other rodents. Rodents are usually taken from the ground and killed using the sharp claws. The Augur Buzzard uses its hard bill to tear up the flesh. Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Augur Buzzard is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 2 eggs and they are coloured red, white. The nest is built high up in the tree canopy and is protected from predators by branches and the dense green foligae. The Augur Buzzard is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees. The bird is mainly found in the Savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds. The bird is found in the African bushveld The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams This bird is very common in most of the Southern African Forests Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Augur Buzzard is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. It is also seen in flocks |
