Jackal Buzzard
Buteo rufofuscus
This buzzard is named for its distinctive 'weeah-ka-ka' call, which sounds remarkably similar to the yapping of a Black-backed Jackal.
- Scientific name
- Buteo rufofuscus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Accipitriformes › Accipitridae › Buteo
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Mountainous regions, hilly terrain, and high-altitude grasslands, typically in southern Africa.
- Diet
- Opportunistic carnivore eating small mammals, lizards, snakes, birds, and occasionally carrion.
- Range
- South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana
- Size
- Wingspan of 127-143 cm; weight ranges from 800g to 1.7kg.
- Lifespan
- 12-15 years in the wild.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Secondary poisoning from baited carcasses, power line collisions, and loss of habitat due to agriculture.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. Observe from a distance with binoculars. If the bird circles low or vocalizes aggressively, you may be near a nest; retreat slowly. If scratched or bitten, clean the area thoroughly and seek medical advice for infection risk.
The jackal buzzard ( Buteo rufofuscus ) is a 45–55 cm long African bird of prey. The taxonomy on this species is confusing, with some taxonomists considering this species, the Archer's buzzard, and the augur buzzard to be the same superspecies. Many taxonomists consider them all to be distinct, having different calls, different home ranges and variations in plumage. This is a species that lives among mountains, and on adjacent savanna and grassland. It is resident and non-migratory throughout...
Photo: Shaun Swanepoel, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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