- Butastur rufipennis
Identification
35–44 cm (13½-17¼ in); an elegant long-winged raptor
- Small headed
- Long legged
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa: widespread from Senegal and Gambia east to Ethiopia and south Somalia and south to southern Tanzania.
Undertakes northward movements to breed in wet season (April-September) and south in dry season (October-March).
In East Africa moves south in wet season (November-December). Common in much of range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Open woodland and savanna, cultivated land and often attends grass fires.
Behaviour
A confiding raptor
Diet
Their diet includes large insects, especially grasshoppers.
Vocalisation
Mostly silent, except in the breeding season when utters a loud "ki-ki-ki-ki-keee" call.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Photo by osprey66
Inland Gambia, December 2009
Photo by Sylvester_b
Ghana, November2009
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2014)
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Grasshopper Buzzard. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 March 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grasshopper_Buzzard
External Links
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Search the Gallery using the common name:
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