Black-breasted Buzzard
Encyclopedia
The Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon), or Black-breasted Kite, is a large bird of prey
in the family Accipitridae
and the monotypic genus Hamirostra. It is sometimes known as the Black-breasted Kite, but is neither a kite nor a buzzard.
and the Wedge-tailed Eagle
. It is 50 to 60 cm (19.7 to 23.6 in) in length and has a wingspan of 145 to 155 cm (57.1 to 61 in). Females are larger than the males, and weigh more, with males weighing around 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) and females weighing 1.4 kg (3.1 lb). Adult birds are relatively easy to recognise by their mainly dark plumage combined with distinctive white patches on the wings at the bases of the primary feathers.
, the Black-Breasted Buzzard is found mainly in the northern and central parts of the continent, living in the desert
s, dry grassland
s, shrubland
s, sparse tropical woodland
s and tree-lined watercourses. It does not occur in Tasmania.
s, large lizard
s, other bird
s and carrion
. It will also raid the nests of ground-nesting birds, breaking large eggs by hurling stones against them with its large beak and then eating the contents. (see gallery below).
period is about 40 days, with chicks fledging about 60 days after hatching.
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
in the family Accipitridae
Accipitridae
The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...
and the monotypic genus Hamirostra. It is sometimes known as the Black-breasted Kite, but is neither a kite nor a buzzard.
Description
The Black-breasted Buzzard is a large bird of prey, intermediate in size between the Little EagleLittle Eagle
The Little Eagle is a very small eagle native to Australasia, measuring 45–55 cm in length and weighing 815 g – roughly the size of a Peregrine Falcon. It tends to inhabit open woodland, grassland and arid regions, shunning dense forest...
and the Wedge-tailed Eagle
Wedge-tailed Eagle
The Wedge-tailed Eagle , sometimes known as the Eaglehawk in its native range, is the largest bird of prey in Australia, but it is also found in southern New Guinea. It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail...
. It is 50 to 60 cm (19.7 to 23.6 in) in length and has a wingspan of 145 to 155 cm (57.1 to 61 in). Females are larger than the males, and weigh more, with males weighing around 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) and females weighing 1.4 kg (3.1 lb). Adult birds are relatively easy to recognise by their mainly dark plumage combined with distinctive white patches on the wings at the bases of the primary feathers.
Distribution and habitat
Native to AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the Black-Breasted Buzzard is found mainly in the northern and central parts of the continent, living in the desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s, dry grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s, shrubland
Shrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
s, sparse tropical woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s and tree-lined watercourses. It does not occur in Tasmania.
Feeding
Black-Breasted Buzzards eat rabbitRabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s, large lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s, other bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s and carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
. It will also raid the nests of ground-nesting birds, breaking large eggs by hurling stones against them with its large beak and then eating the contents. (see gallery below).
Breeding
This species nests in trees, often along watercourses, building a platform of sticks with a central leaf-lined depression for the clutch of usually two eggs. The incubationAvian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
period is about 40 days, with chicks fledging about 60 days after hatching.