Lizard Buzzard

The Lizard Buzzard is a relatively small raptor that can be found in the tropical, open woodlands of Sub-Sahran Africa.

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

You can identify the Lizard Buzzard by its white chin, striped over with a vertical black line. They also sport black and white barred chest feathers, dark gray wings and back, and black tipped wings and tail feathers. Juveniles look a lot like their parents, but their feathers are tipped in brown rather than black.

As you may have guessed from the name, Lizard buzzards eat a lot of reptiles, though insects also make up a good portion of their diet. They even kill poisonous snakes, utilizing a quick strike to the head to kill. Lizard Buzzards typically hunt by waiting perfectly still on top of a high perch, swooping down to snatch their meal, and then bringing it back up to the perch to be consumed. The birds will occasionally hunt while in flight as well.

Lizard Buzzards are monogamous, and mates will find each other by making calls from their perches. Unlike many raptors, they do not perform aerial displays during courtship. Females do most of the incubating, while the males hunt. The normally quiet male Buzzards become very territorial and aggressive during nesting.

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IUCN Status : Least Concern
Location : Africa
Size : Length around 14in (36cm)

Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Accipitriformes
Family : Accipitridae -- Genus : Kaupifalco -- Species : K. monogrammicus