Bird Album
Black-breasted Buzzard
Hamirostra melanosternon (Gould, 1841)
1.2 kgWeight
The black-breasted buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) is a large raptor endemic to mainland Australia.
Busiest months: September · Most records: Australia
Where and when it's recorded
Busiest months: September · Most records: Australia
Black-breasted Buzzard has been recorded at 24 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.
Records by month Southern Hemisphere
Where it's recorded most
- Bowra Wildlife SanctuaryAustralia931 records
- Lake EdaAustralia202 records
- Taylors LagoonAustralia195 records
More places
- Muirhead bushlandAustralia106 records
- Roebuck Plains StationAustralia60 records
- Fogg Dam Conservation ReserveAustralia36 records
- Kakadu National Park – Yellow WaterAustralia17 records
- Cumberland DamAustralia14 records
- Broome Bird ObservatoryAustralia13 records
- Holmes Jungle Nature ReserveAustralia10 records
Countries and regions with the most records
eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.
About
The black-breasted buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon) is a large raptor endemic to mainland Australia. First described by John Gould in 1841, it forms part of the family Accipitridae (hawks and eagles) and is most closely related to the square-tailed kite (Lophoictinia isura). It is a versatile hunter known for its special skill in cracking eggs.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia
Questions
How big is the Black-breasted Buzzard?
The Black-breasted Buzzard weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Black-breasted Buzzard live?
Its breeding range: Australasia: Australia (except southern, Tasmania). It is most often recorded in Australia.
When is the best time to see the Black-breasted Buzzard?
At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in September (Southern Hemisphere).
Is the Black-breasted Buzzard endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-breasted Buzzard as Least Concern.
What does the Black-breasted Buzzard eat?
Main food: Vertebrate prey.
What family is the Black-breasted Buzzard in?
It belongs to the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae), order Accipitriformes.
At a glance
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Habitat
- Woodland
- Diet
- Vertebrate prey
- Lifestyle
- Feeds in the air
- Migration
- Partial migrant
- Conservation
- Least Concern
More measurements
- Wing
- 473 mm
- Tail
- 233 mm
- Bill
- 40 mm
- Tarsus
- 53 mm
Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.
Range
Australasia: Australia (except southern, Tasmania)
Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2
Classification
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Kites, Hawks, Eagles Accipitridae
- Genus
- Hamirostra
More from the family Kites, Hawks, Eagles
Pearl KiteGampsonyx swainsonii
Scissor-tailed KiteChelictinia riocourii
White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus
Black-winged KiteElanus caeruleus
Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
Letter-winged KiteElanus scriptus
African Harrier-HawkPolyboroides typus
Madagascar Harrier-HawkPolyboroides radiatus
Palm-nut VultureGypohierax angolensis
Bearded VultureGypaetus barbatus
Download illustration
Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Kym Nicolson. ↗
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