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

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Grasshopper sparrow

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Grassland sparrow

The grassland sparrow is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are dry savannah, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, and pastureland.

Gray catbird

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