Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis Grasshopper Buzzard-hawk

Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis
(aka Grasshopper Buzzard-hawk)

Ghana
June 2011

The Grasshopper Buzzard is distributed in tropical Africa south of the Sahara and north of the Congo Basin. It breeds between 15°N and 9°N and, after breeding, it migrates south of that band to between 9°N and 8°S. There is a distribution map at Birdlife International.

It is found mainly in dry, open country and is frequently seen near grass fires or recently burnt areas. It tends to use the same small number of perches day after day and these are usually bare branches or telegraph poles.

It is a mid-sized hawk and is not a buzzard despite its English name though its taxonomic relationships are unclear. It is not particularly buzzard-like in appearance and, with its long, pointed wings looks more kite-like. The black-edged, rufous wings are distinctive.

It feeds on insects such as grasshoppers as well as on spiders, crabs and a few small mammals, birds and reptiles. Most of its prey is caught on the ground either by hunting from a perch or foraging on foot after a grass fire. I think photo 5 shows a millipede or small reptile that has been caught.

Grasshopper Buzzard, Tono Dam, Ghana, June 2011 - click for larger image

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