Socotra buzzard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Socotra buzzard |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | Buteo |
| Species: |
B. socotraensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Buteo socotraensis Porter & Kirwan, 2010
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The Socotra buzzard (Buteo socotraensis) is a medium-sized bird of prey. It is a type of buzzard, which is a bird that hunts other animals. Some people think it is a special kind of common buzzard. This bird lives only on Socotra Island in Yemen. Even though it is listed as vulnerable, its numbers seem to be steady.
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What Does the Socotra Buzzard Look Like?
The Socotra buzzard is about 45 centimeters long. Adult birds usually have yellow-white feathers on their belly and chest. They have fine brown stripes on their throat and chest. These stripes are thicker on their belly, sides, and upper legs. Some birds have a white throat and upper chest.
This buzzard has short, strong wings. Its wings are about 358 millimeters long. Its tail is about 188.5 millimeters long. Its lower leg (tarsus) is about 65.19 millimeters long. Young buzzards look very similar to adult birds. The main difference is how strong the stripes are on their undersides.
How Scientists Classify the Socotra Buzzard
Scientists have known about this bird for over 110 years. But it was not officially named a separate species until 2010. Before that, many thought it was the same as the common buzzard.
There has been a lot of discussion about where the Socotra buzzard fits in the bird family tree. It is most closely related to the rufinus and bannermani buzzards. However, its feathers look most like the trizonatus or oreophilus buzzards.
Where the Socotra Buzzard Lives
The Socotra buzzard lives only on Socotra Island in Yemen. These birds live in the lower hills and flat areas of the island. They also live in places with deep valleys. You can usually find them at heights between 150 and 800 meters above sea level.
This buzzard needs cliffs to build its nests. It does not seem to rely on trees for nesting. Because of this, it might compete for nesting spots with other birds. These include vultures, ravens, and falcons. Recent studies suggest there are fewer than 500 of these birds on the island.
Socotra Buzzard Behaviour
How the Socotra Buzzard Calls
Scientists have only recorded the call of the Socotra buzzard once. Because of this small sample, its call has not been used to help classify it. Its call sounds very similar to other buzzards in the same group. These include Buteo rufinus, B. buteo, and B. oreophilus.
A special thing about its call is the short time between calls. This time is less than 1 second. Its call has a sound frequency of 2.2 kHz. This is similar but different from other buzzards in its group.
What the Socotra Buzzard Eats
Socotra Island does not have many mammals. So, the Socotra buzzard mainly eats reptiles and insects. It is an opportunistic hunter. This means it hunts whatever it can find easily. It is unlikely to hunt other bird species.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
During breeding season, Socotra buzzards have been seen doing aerial displays. They tumble in the air and grab each other's talons. This season usually happens from September to April. Eggs are laid between September and January.
They build their nests on cliffs or in cracks in rocks. They usually have 1 to 3 young birds in each brood. Both male and female buzzards help care for their young. They stay with the young birds even after they learn to fly. Nests have been found at heights of 150 to 650 meters. They are often in shaded areas to protect the young from the sun.
 | Chris Smalls |
 | Fred Hampton |
 | Ralph Abernathy |
