black-breasted buzzard #2 - a photo on Flickriver

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Black-breasted Buzzard
Scientific Name: Hamirostra melanosternon
Description: The Black-breasted Buzzard is a large dark raptor (bird of prey) with a very short, square-tipped tail. Long feathers on the nape may be raised in a short crest. White 'bull's eye' marks are seen under the wings, which are long and 'fingered' in flight. The breast is sandy-brown in light-phase birds or dark brown and black in the dark-phase. The tail is short and the wings are longer than the tail when the bird is perched. Females are larger than males. They soar high and, when flying low and hunting, often rock or sway from side to side. This species may also be called the Black-breasted Kite.
Similar species: The white patches in the under-wing are much brighter than in other raptors, such as the Little Eagle, Hieraaetus morphnoides, and the tail is short, unlike the long wedge-shaped tail of the Wedge-tailed Eagle,Aquila audax. It is bigger than the Black Kite, Milvus migrans.
Distribution: The Black-breasted Buzzard is endemic to Australia (found only there), mainly in the north and in semi-arid and arid central regions. It is rare in eastern, southern coastal or near-coastal mainlan
Habitat: Black-breasted Buzzards are found in lightly timbered plains, open country and tree-lined waterways through inland Australia and in semi-arid or arid regions.
Seasonal movements: Buzzards are rare migrants to coastal or near coastal areas. They are partially migratory in northern Australia and sedentary in the south east, their movements being related to rainfall.
Feeding: Black-breasted Buzzards soar high and glide low, like a harrier, looking for rabbits, ground birds, lizards and carrion (dead animals). They glide at speed and snatch food from the ground, from trees or in the air.
Breeding: Black-breasted Buzzards breed throughout their range, but rarely east of about longitude 148 degrees. They may nest at any time when there is plenty of rain and may not breed at all in drought years. The nest is a platform of large, dry sticks, with smaller sticks on top.The shallow saucer is lined with green leaves. It is placed on a strong limb or fork, often in a tree along a waterway, where the Buzzard has a good view. Both parents incubate, brood and feed the young, tearing up food at the nest.
Calls: Generally silent, but vocal near the nest, with yelps and soft piping.
Minimum Size: 50cm
Maximum Size: 60cm
Average size: 55cm
Average weight: 1 350g
Breeding season: August to September in south and centre; May to July in north
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Incubation: 40 days
Nestling Period: 60 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Hamirostra-melanosternon)

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© Chris Burns 2022

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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

Taken in: Australia / Queensland / Westbourne Siding (show map)

Taken on: May 29, 2022

Tags:

Black-breasted Buzzard

Hamirostra melanosternon

Australian bird

fauna

Australian fauna

Nikon D500

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

BArcaldine

Queensland

Australia

nature

outback

outdoors

QLD

raptor

buzzard

Australian buzzard

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Camera: Nikon D500, f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, 500mm (=750mm), ISO 250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D500
Lens:	200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/2000)
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm equivalent: 750mm)
ISO:	250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 23.3 (Windows)
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