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6

Black-breasted Buzzard

(Hamirostra melanosternon)
Alternate name(s): "Black-breasted Kite"
Aboriginal name(s): "koodap" (WA)

Size: 50-60 cm; wing span 1.4-1.55 m
Weight: 1.2 kg (male), 1.4 kg (female); averages
Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Black-breasted Buzzard at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Black-breasted Buzzard (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a soaring Black-breasted Buzzard (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Oolloo Road crossing, Daly River, NT, August 2021]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a soaring Black-breasted Buzzard; note the characteristic prominent, semi-translucent white wing panels
[Near Wanaaring, NSW, September 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a soaring Black-breasted Buzzard
[Near Wanaaring, NSW, September 2012]

Lateral/ventral view of a soaring Black-breasted Buzzard (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Oolloo Road crossing, Daly River, NT, August 2021]

Lateral/ventral view of a Black-breasted Buzzard looking down on the observer (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Innamincka NP, SA, July 2006]

Distant lateral/ventral view of a Black-breasted Buzzard in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Leaning Tree Lagoon, Adelaide River floodplain, NT, November 2018]

Dorsal/ventral view of a Black-breasted Buzzard in flight
[Near Wanaaring, NSW, September 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Black-breasted Buzzard (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bowra, QLD, October 2012]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Solitary/pair

Food, Diet

The Black-breasted Buzzard is known for a special skill - it can use a rock to crack open an Emu egg, as shown in this photo sequence (of a bird in captivity). All photos have kindly been contributed by A. Ross-Taylor.

Black-breasted Buzzard presented with the challenge of opening an Emu egg, looking around for a suitable tool
(photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

Black-breasted Buzzard with a rock as its tool to crack open an Emu egg (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

Black-breasted Buzzard with a rock as its tool to crack open an Emu egg (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

Upward acceleration... (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

... and hit the target - dinner time! (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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