The Black-breasted Buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon: a Review

Abstract

The literature concerning the Black-breasted Buzzard's morphology, diet, hunting behaviour and breeding biology is reviewed and supplemented with observations on wild and captive birds. The Buzzard is considered a generalised predator and scavenger of woodland and treeless country, preying on a variety of arboreal and terrestrial vertebrates detected primarily on long, fast gliding transects. It has some specialisations and behavioural peculiarities, such as use of stones to break the eggs of large ground-nesting birds, and a possibly polyandrous breeding system in desert areas. It requires mature eucalypts for nesting, breeds at low density, and has a traditional nest site and large home range. Its existence in the arid zone is dependent on rainfall, and may be precarious. It has declined in southeastern and eastern parts of its range, through disturbance and degradation of breeding habitat. Its biology and conservation status require investigation, and further behavioural study would be rewarding.