Black-breasted Kite

Identificazione

Intermediate in body size between the well-known larger wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) and the smaller little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides), the black-breasted buzzard is one of Australia's largest birds of prey and one of the world's largest kites alongside the red kite, which is slightly less heavy but has a longer total length. An adult black-breasted buzzard measures 51 to 61 cm (20 to 24 in) in height including its short square tail. The buzzard's outstretched wingspan measures 141 to 156 cm (4 ft 8 in to 5 ft 1 in), rendering the bird distinctive in flight as its wings are conspicuously long relative to its stout body and tail. Buzzards appear sexually monomorphic (identical in physical appearance), although the adult female is slightly larger, weighing approximately 1,330 g (2.93 lb) compared to the 1,196 g (2.637 lb) of the adult male. The weight range for the species is from 1,150 to 1,600 g (2.54 to 3.53 lb). It is most closely related to the Square-tailed kite (Lophoictinia isura).<p>The black-breasted buzzard is striking in appearance due to the distinctive markings of the adult plumage. From the underside, the mainly black colouring of the body and wings is contrasted by thick white panels near the end of the wings. From above, the black plumage is broken by a rich mottled red across the back and shoulders. Birds in the immature and juvenile phases of growth display pale brown colouring, with dark to black streaks increasing with age. Chicks have white coloured down, described as ‘hair-like’ on their heads. Adult birds may be individually identified during flight by broken or missing flight feathers, or when perched closely together by subtle differences in the red of the back and shoulders.<p>The common call of the black-breasted buzzard is described as a repeated hoarse yelping or short sharp yap or yelp. Adult females also make a soft drawn-out wheezing call to solicit their mate to copulate, undertake nest-building, forage for food and defend the nest. Young buzzards also use a wheezing call to solicit food from their parents.

Tassonomia

Genere: Hamirostra; famiglia: Accipitridae; ordine: Accipitriformes.

Nome scientifico

Hamirostra melanosternon

Autorità

(Gould, 1841)

Ordine

Accipitriformi

Famiglia

Accipitridae

Genere

Hamirostra

Areale e habitat

The black-breasted buzzard is widely but sparsely distributed throughout northern and inland Australia in areas with less than 500 mm annual rainfall. The buzzard's range stretches from north-eastern South Australia, north-western New South Wales, northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and the north-western exterior of Western Australia. The buzzard does not occur in Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory or Tasmania, due to their wetter temperate climates.<p>Found to occur in wooded and open habitats, the black-breasted buzzard is most commonly observed in riparian forests and tall-open woodlands surrounded by mid-dense shrublands. In a study of raptor habitat association in central Australia, it was most commonly observed in River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) open woodland, demonstrating a significant preference for this habitat type.

Migrazione

unknown

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione: in diminuzione.

Tendenza della popolazione

in diminuzione