Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis - some photos and notes

Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis

Red-necked Buzzard, Kakum, Ghana, May 2011 - click for larger image

Ghana
May / June 2011

The Red-necked Buzzard is distributed in tropical Africa south of the Sahara from Senegal in West Africa to Ethiopia and south on the west coast to north-west Angola. There is a distribution map at Birdlife International.

It is found in woodland, forest edges, savannah and farmland where it feeds on reptiles, amphibians and insects which are hunted from a suitable perch.

The adult, seen here in photos 1 and 2, has a rufous/brown head, mantle and chest. From below it is mainly white with a dark trailing edge and dark spots on the belly and wing-linings. The tail is rufous.

Photo 3 shows a juvenile bird with less marked wing-linings, a pale breast and barred tail.

When circling or displaying it makes a loud mew call.

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