Grasshopper buzzard

The grasshopper buzzard is a species of bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which is found in a narrow zone of sub-Saharan Africa north of the equator.

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Distribution

Region

Sahel and Sudanian savannas of West and Central Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs in a narrow band north of the equator from West Africa east across the Sahel and Sudanian zones. Prefers open wooded savanna, fallow fields, floodplains, and recently burned grasslands, avoiding dense forest and true desert. Often seen near agriculture and along roads where perches are available. Concentrations may form where insect swarms are abundant, especially during and after bushfires.

Altitude Range

0–1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size35–40 cm

Wing Span80–95 cm

Male Weight0.35 kg

Female Weight0.45 kg

Life Expectancy12 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Named for its preference for grasshoppers and locusts, this small buzzard often hunts along bushfires, snatching prey flushed by the flames. It favors open savannas with scattered trees and frequently perches on termite mounds to scan for prey. Seasonal movements track rainfall patterns across the Sahel-savanna belt. During breeding it nests in trees, building a small stick platform.

Gallery

Grasshopper buzzard in The Gambia, West Africa

Behaviour

Temperament

alert and active

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats interspersed with glides; soars on thermals when surveying

Social Behavior

Usually solitary or in pairs, but can gather loosely where prey is concentrated, such as around grassland fires. Builds a small stick nest in a tree, often in open savanna. Likely monogamous in the breeding season and territorial around nest sites.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Generally quiet, vocalizing mainly near the nest or during display. Calls are high, piping whistles and sharp, mewing notes that carry over open savanna.

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Identification

Leg Coloryellow

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

Compact buzzard with a greyish head, dark brown upperparts, and rich rufous wing coverts and tail; underparts are warm rufous to buff with fine streaking. Underwings show contrasting dark carpal patches with paler flight feathers. Throat often paler, giving a slight contrast with chest.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Primarily takes large insects, especially grasshoppers, locusts, beetles, and termites. Also opportunistically captures small vertebrates such as lizards, small rodents, and small birds. Hunts by perch-and-pounce from low trees, poles, or termite mounds, and actively quarters over recently burned areas. Will sally to the ground or make short aerial chases after flushed insects.

Preferred Environment

Open savannas, burned grasslands, field edges, and lightly wooded areas with scattered perches. Common around bushfires and agricultural mosaics where prey is abundant and visible.

Population

Total Known Populationunknown

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