Red-necked buzzard

The red-necked buzzard, also known as the African red-tailed buzzard, is a species of buzzard in the family Accipitridae which is found in western and northern central Africa.

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Distribution

Region

West and Central Africa

Typical Environment

Occurs from coastal and inland West Africa east into northern parts of Central Africa, favoring woodland-savanna mosaics, gallery forests, forest edges, and cultivated landscapes with scattered trees. It is commonly seen perched on tall trees, poles, or emergent branches overlooking clearings. The species tolerates moderately disturbed habitats and can occur near villages and plantations. It generally avoids dense interior rainforest and true desert.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2200 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size45–55 cm

Wing Span110–135 cm

Male Weight0.85 kg

Female Weight1.05 kg

Life Expectancy15 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called the African red-tailed buzzard, it is a broad-winged raptor that often hunts from exposed perches along forest edges and savannas. It adapts fairly well to mosaic landscapes and can be seen near farms, plantations, and roadsides. Its deep, mewing call is frequently heard when soaring over territory. As a mid-sized predator, it helps regulate populations of rodents and reptiles.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

soaring glider

Social Behavior

Usually seen alone or in pairs, often soaring over or perched within territories. Pairs are monogamous and build stick nests high in trees, lining them with fresh greenery. Clutches are small, and both adults defend the nest vigorously.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Gives a plaintive, mewing call reminiscent of other buzzards, often delivered while soaring. Calls can become more frequent during the breeding season and territorial displays.

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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

Red-necked falcon

The red-necked falcon is a bird of prey in the falcon family with two disjunct populations, one in India and the other in Africa. This medium-sized falcon has bluish grey wings and upper body, a chestnut red cap with short chin straps passing through the eye. The primary feathers of the wing are black and a single black band at the tip of the tail are distinctive. The Indian subspecies Falco chicquera chicquera also known as the red-headed merlin or red-headed falcon is found mainly in the open plains of the India Subcontinent although it is thought to have occurred further west in southeastern Iran. The subspecies Falco chicquera ruficollis found in sub-Saharan Africa is sometimes treated as a full species, the rufous-necked falcon, on the basis of its well-separated geographic range and distinctive pattern. It appears very similar to the Indian form but has dark barring on the upperparts, a rufous breast band, and black moustachial and eye stripes. As in most falcons, the females are larger and falconers in India called the female turumti and the male as chatwa. They hunt in pairs mostly at dawn and dusk, capturing small birds, bats and squirrels.

Red-necked grebe

The red-necked grebe is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites.