White-eyed Buzzard

The White-eyed Buzzard, Butastur teesa, is a medium-sized hawk, not to be confused with the true buzzards of the genus Buteo. It is characterized by a rufous tail, a striking white iris, and a white throat with a dark mesial stripe. The head is brown, and the median coverts of the upper wing are pale. This species sits upright on perches for extended periods and soars on thermals in search of prey.

Identification Tips

When identifying the White-eyed Buzzard, look for the white iris and the white throat with a dark mesial stripe. A white spot may sometimes be visible on the back of the head. The wingtips nearly reach the tail when perched, and the ceres are distinctly yellow. In flight, the narrow wings appear rounded with black tips to the feathers, and the wing lining is dark, contrasting with the flight feathers. The upper wing in flight shows a pale bar over the brown, and the rufous tail is barred with a darker subterminal band.

Habitat

The White-eyed Buzzard favors dry, open forests or cultivated areas. It is often found in the plains but can venture up to 1200 meters in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across South Asia, including India, Iran, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It is a summer visitor in northeastern Afghanistan and is notably absent from Sri Lanka and possibly the Andamans.

Behaviour

The White-eyed Buzzard is typically a solitary soarer, utilizing thermals, but may occasionally be seen in groups of two or three. It is particularly vocal during the breeding season, with a mewing call or falling whistle that is repeated when pairs are soaring.

Song & Calls

The call of the White-eyed Buzzard is a mewing or falling whistle, transcribed as "pit-weer," which is often repeated during the breeding season.

Breeding

The breeding season spans from February to May. The nest is a loose platform of twigs, similar to that of a crow, sometimes placed in a leafless tree. The usual clutch comprises three white, typically unspotted eggs. Both sexes participate in nest-building and feeding the young, while the female alone incubates the eggs for about 19 days.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists mainly of locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, and other large insects, as well as mice, lizards, and frogs. They may also take crabs from wetlands and occasionally larger prey such as the black-naped hare.

Conservation status

The White-eyed Buzzard is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, numbers are declining in some areas, and they are the second most common raptor to be killed by electrocution on power lines in Rajasthan, after kestrels.