Archer's buzzard

Archer's buzzard (Buteo archeri) is a species of bird of prey that is endemic to Somalia. The bird's common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British explorer and colonial official Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer.[1]

Archer's buzzard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species:
B. archeri
Binomial name
Buteo archeri
(WL Sclater, 1918)

Taxonomy

The status of this taxon has been disputed, with some taxonomists considering this species, the jackal buzzard, and the augur buzzard to be the same species. Many taxonomists consider them all to be distinct, having different calls, different home ranges and slight variations in plumage.

Description

It is 50–55 cm (20–22 in) long and the adult has distinctive reddish plumage. The adult Archer's buzzard is strikingly plumed. It is dark brown above with a dark tail. It has chestnut underparts, and rufous feathers above. It has white throat with black streaking. Juvenile birds are pale rufous to white below with sparse streaking on the upper breast.

Habitat

In its restricted range in the northern part of Somalia it is found in mountains and adjacent savanna and grassland. It is resident and non-migratory throughout its range.

Diet

The diet of the Archer's buzzard is mainly small ground mammals, but snakes, lizards, small ground birds, and insects. Typically, the raptor drops on its prey from a perch or hover.

References
  1. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 29.
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