Kingdom Animalia Family Accipitridae Phylum Chordata Order Accipitriformes | Class Aves Genus Buteo Rank Species | |
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Similar Buteo, Bird, Accipitridae, Red‑necked buzzard, Madagascar buzzard | ||
The Archer's buzzard (Buteo archeri) is a 50–55 cm long African bird of prey. The taxonomy on this species is confusing, with some taxonomists considering this species, the jackal 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 slight variations in plumage. This is a species of mountains, and adjacent savanna and grassland. It is resident and non-migratory throughout its range. It is an endemic bird species in northern Somalia.
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.
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.
The bird’s common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British explorer and colonial official Sir Geoffrey Francis Archer.