Mountain buzzard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain buzzard |
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The mountain buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) is a type of bird of prey, which means it hunts other animals for food. These birds live in the cool, high-up forests of East Africa. For a long time, people thought the mountain buzzard was the same species as the forest buzzard found in southern Africa. Now, scientists know they are different birds.
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What Does the Mountain Buzzard Look Like?
The mountain buzzard is a small hawk. It looks a lot like another bird called the steppe buzzard. Adult mountain buzzards have brown feathers on their backs. Their undersides are lighter, with dark brown spots on their chest and belly.
If you look at their wings from below, you'll see stripes on the flight feathers. There's also a clear black stripe along the back edge of the wing. Their tail is brown on top and light grey underneath. It has faint stripes that get wider near the tip. Young mountain buzzards are lighter in color and have fewer spots than the adults.
Where Do Mountain Buzzards Live?
Mountain buzzards live in the high mountain areas of eastern Africa. You can find them in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. They also live in Rwanda and the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Further south, they are found in Tanzania, Burundi, and Malawi.
What Kind of Home Does It Like?
This bird prefers to live in mountain forests. It can also be found in smaller patches of these forests. Sometimes, they even live in areas with planted trees, like eucalyptus farms. In places like Malawi, they stick to rainforests in the mountains. They don't usually hunt in open areas outside the forest.
How Does the Mountain Buzzard Live?
Mountain buzzards spend most of their day resting inside the forest. But sometimes, you can see them flying high above the trees. They are very protective of their home territory. You usually see them alone or in pairs.
They hunt small animals like tiny mammals, reptiles, and insects. The buzzard watches from a high branch. Once it spots something, it glides down quickly to catch its prey. In Uganda, these birds have even been seen hunting bats near caves!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Mountain buzzards build their nests out of sticks. They place these nests high up in the forks of tall forest trees. In East Africa, eggs have been found in nests during January and March. Young chicks have been seen in March, June, and July.
In Malawi, there aren't many confirmed records of them breeding. However, pairs of buzzards are most active in September, showing off to each other. A young buzzard was also seen there in October.
How Scientists Classify the Mountain Buzzard
Scientists group living things to understand them better. The mountain buzzard is part of a group that includes the common buzzard and the Madagascar buzzard. Some scientists even think it might be related to the red-tailed hawk from North and South America.
For a while, the mountain buzzard was thought to be a type of common buzzard. Then, it was grouped with the forest buzzard as one species. But now, scientists agree that the mountain buzzard and the forest buzzard are two separate species.
