Lizard buzzard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lizard buzzard |
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| Conservation status | |
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Kaupifalco
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| Species: |
monogrammicus
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The lizard buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus) is also known as the lizard hawk. It is a bird of prey that belongs to the family Accipitridae. This bird lives in Sub-Saharan Africa. Even though it is called a "buzzard," it might be more like the Accipiter hawks than the Buteo buzzards.
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About the Lizard Buzzard
Scientists have studied the lizard buzzard's genes. They found it is not closely related to Buteo buzzards. Instead, it is more like Accipiter hawks. This also matches how the bird looks. For example, the lizard buzzard has short, pointed wings. Even though it lives in Africa, its closest relatives are two Microspizias hawks. These hawks live in Central and South America.
What Does a Lizard Buzzard Look Like?
The lizard buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey. It is about 35–37 cm long. Its wings can spread to about 79 cm wide. Male birds weigh around 246 grams. Females are a bit heavier, at about 304 grams.
Its head, back, and chest are grey. It has a black line down its white throat. This line helps tell it apart from other birds of prey. Its belly is white with thin dark stripes. The underside of its wings is white with dark tips. Its tail is black with a white tip and one white band.
The bird's eyes are dark reddish-brown or black. Its beak base (cere) and legs are red or orange-red. Male and female lizard buzzards look very similar. When it flies, it moves up and down, like a thrush. Young lizard buzzards look like adults. Their wings might have a slight brown color. Their cere and legs are orange-yellow.
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A lizard buzzard in Uganda
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A lizard buzzard in Saloum Delta National Park in Senegal
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Where Lizard Buzzards Live
Lizard buzzards live across Sub-Saharan Africa. You can find them from Eritrea down to north-eastern South Africa. They are common in West Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. They also live in north-eastern Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa.
They prefer moist woodlands with dense trees. They especially like miombo woodlands. They also live at the edges of forests and along wooded rivers. In winter, they can be found in dry, thorny areas of East and Central Africa.
How Lizard Buzzards Behave
Lizard buzzards usually live alone. They are quiet birds. The only time they make noise is during breeding season. This is in September and October. Then, they make a clear, musical whistle sound: klu-klu-klu. They tend to stay in one area. They are also very protective of their territory.
They do not soar high in the sky very often. Soaring mostly happens during their courtship dances. Sometimes, it happens on rare non-breeding days in the late morning.
Hunting and Diet
Lizard buzzards hunt from high spots, like tree branches. They usually perch 6–10 meters up. They catch their prey by swooping or gliding down into the grass. They do not attack very often. They patiently search for food. This saves energy but takes more time. They rarely catch prey while flying.
Their wings are shorter and more pointed. This helps them fly faster through dense trees. This is useful for catching prey in thick plants. Their diet includes insects, reptiles, and small mammals. They eat many grasshoppers and termites. But, rodents make up most of their food by weight. They also like lizards, especially Mabuya and Agama lizards. Frogs and snakes are also part of their diet.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Lizard buzzards breed from September to November. They stay with the same partner for life. Both the male and female help build the nest. Their nests are small and strong. They are made of sticks. Nests are often found in the lower branches of trees. They can be in native or non-native trees. Nests are usually close to the main tree trunk. The inside of the nest is lined with dry grass, green leaves, or lichen.
Lizard buzzards sometimes use old nests built by other birds. They prefer to build their own nests in lower tree branches. But if they use an old nest, it might be higher up. They also compete with Shikras for nests. Shikras are similar in size and live in the same areas.
The female lays 1 to 3 white eggs. She sits on the eggs for 32–34 days until they hatch. During this time, the male brings food to the female. After the chicks hatch, both parents feed them for about 40 days. The young birds become fully independent around 90 days old.
Conservation Status
The lizard buzzard lives in a very large area. Its population is also very big. Scientists believe its numbers are stable. Because of these reasons, it is listed as a species of "least concern." This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
However, some birds of prey in Africa are declining. This is especially true in West and Southern Africa. Many people are moving into these areas. This leads to too much use of the land. This can cause a loss of different types of plants and animals.
In West Africa, some raptors are declining due to:
- Loss of woodlands and places to nest.
- More use of pesticides.
- Intensive farming, especially for cotton.
- Disturbing their nests.
In Southern Africa, raptor declines are linked to:
- Use of poisons.
- Electrocution from power lines.
- Loss of natural homes.
- Drowning in farm water reservoirs.
Even with these problems, not all raptor species are declining. Some, like those that can adapt easily or migrate, have increased. For example, the grasshopper buzzard, black kite, and hooded vulture have grown in number in West Africa. In South Africa, the steppe buzzard, lesser kestrel, and yellow-billed kite have also increased.
We do not have enough information about the lizard buzzard. It is unclear how it has adapted to human changes. We don't know how it handles the loss of its preferred woodland habitat. But, its favorite prey, like insects, lizards, and rodents, are still common. This might be why the lizard buzzard is still doing well.
