The rufous-winged buzzard is an Asian bird of prey. It is a resident breeder of Indochina, Java and Sulawesi. It is a species of deciduous forest and second growth up to 800 m.
Region
Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Found from Indochina through parts of the Greater and Lesser Sundas, notably on Java and Sulawesi. It inhabits deciduous forest, open woodland, and extensive second growth, often near clearings and forest edges. The species tolerates lightly disturbed habitats and edges of plantations but avoids dense primary rainforest. It is typically encountered as a resident in lowlands and foothills. Perching on exposed branches or snags, it hunts over adjacent open patches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The rufous-winged buzzard is often overlooked due to its quiet demeanor, spending long periods perched while scanning for prey. It can be confused with the grey-faced buzzard, but shows warmer rufous tones in the wings and tends to favor lowland deciduous and secondary forests. It adapts reasonably well to second growth and forest edge habitats. Like many raptors in Southeast Asia, it is sensitive to ongoing habitat loss.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
soaring glider with intermittent steady wingbeats; often hunts from a perch with short, direct sallies
Social Behavior
Generally seen alone or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Nests are stick platforms placed high in trees, and pairs are presumed monogamous. Both adults share nesting duties, and the species is secretive around the nest. Outside breeding, individuals remain within home ranges and use favored perches repeatedly.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Usually quiet, giving high, thin whistles or mewing calls, especially at dawn or near the nest. Vocalizations are brief and spaced out, often delivered from a perch or while circling above the canopy.
Plumage
Brown to grey-brown upperparts with warm rufous wing coverts and flight feathers creating a distinct rufous panel; underparts pale buff to whitish with fine rufous barring; tail grey-brown with narrow dark bands; throat whitish with subtle streaking.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small vertebrates such as lizards, small mammals, and birds, and also takes large insects like grasshoppers and beetles. Hunts from exposed perches, swooping down to seize prey on the ground or in low vegetation. Will occasionally forage along forest tracks and edges where prey activity is concentrated. Opportunistic, taking advantage of disturbed areas where prey is easier to detect.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, second growth, open woodland, and adjacent clearings. Often hunts near scrubby patches, plantation margins, and lightly wooded farmland where visibility is good. Uses prominent perches such as dead branches, snags, and roadside trees.
