Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon)

Other Names (World)
Black-breasted Buzzard, Black-breasted Kite, Broad-tailed Mountain Eagle

Family
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles)

Size
55 - 60 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Gould, 1841)

Derivation
Häm-i-ros'-tra - L., hamus, hook; L., rostrum, bill: mel'-an-o-ster'-non - Gk, melas (melanos), black; Gk, sternon, breast

Remarks
As an aid to identification in flight the following silhouettes may be of assistance

Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) - gliding
Gliding

Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) - soaring

Soaring

Abundance (Guide)
UC

Common throughout arid regions, widespread and scattered. Sedentary.

Habitat
Semi-arid and arid regions, open woodlands, floodplains, avoids forests and other dense vegetation.

Range (Guide)

Australia (B).

Image of Range of Black-breasted Buzzard

Australia generally, except Tasmania and eastern and southern coastal regions.

Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.

Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 10,000 (2010).

Status LC
Probably secure.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Singly or in pairs.

Food
Reptiles, chiefly lizards, mammals, mostly rabbits, and eggs of Emu and Bustard.

Voice
An excited, yelping, 'kyik-kyik-kyik' an returning to the nest. A high, long, 'screee' in alarm. A variety of harsh, scratchy, grating sounds.

Listen to call of Black-breasted Buzzard

(10Kb) © ? (3)

Xeno-Canto Sound Files

Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) [XC802888]
by id from Florina, Katherine Municipality, Northern Territory, Australia (call)

Breeding Season (Guide)
July - November.

Nest
A large, flat structure, composed of sticks, lined with leaves, in a horizontal fork of a tree. Occasionally an old nest of another Buzzard or other bird is used.

Eggs (Guide)
1 - 4, usually 2; matt, white to pale buff, finely freckled to boldly blotched with rust-red, purple-red, chocolate and lilac; rounded-oval; about 62 x 50 mm. Incubation: about 40 days; by both sexes.

Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledge in about 60 days.

Subspecies
No subspecies.

Similar Species
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Has a longer, larger, forked tail. Dark underwings.

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
Larger. Has a longer, wedge-shaped, pointed tail.

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura)
Has long, barred, deeply fingered primaries.

Compare Images

References
See References.

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9

Files:

JPG files for Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) - 10 files

MP3 files for Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) - 3 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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