Mountain Buzzard
Buteo oreophilus
Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) — Birds of Prey of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 700 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Buteo
- Species oreophilus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 700 g
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mountain Buzzard preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Mountain Buzzard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) belongs to the Accipitridae family of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia to n Malawi.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 700 g, with a wing length of about 34.6 cm and a tail of around 18.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 675,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mountain Buzzard?
The Mountain Buzzard is a large bird that weighs around 700 g.
Where does the Mountain Buzzard live?
The Mountain Buzzard is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia to n Malawi, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Mountain Buzzard belong to?
The Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Mountain Buzzard eat?
The Mountain Buzzard preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Mountain Buzzard migrate?
The Mountain Buzzard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mountain Buzzard endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Mountain Buzzard make?
1 real field recording of the Mountain Buzzard — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mountain Buzzard's range?
The Mountain Buzzard has a mapped global range of about 675,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.