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Name: Grey-faced Buzzard
Scientific name: (Butastur indicus)
Malay name: Helang Kepala Kelabu
Description:
41-46cm (16 – 18in). Long-winged buzzard with wingtips almost reaching tail tip when perched. In flight, wings usually held flat with tail broadly fanned. Grey ear coverts, sharply demarcated from white throat with prominent dark mesial stripe distinctive. Upperparts brown with blackish streaks and bars. Breast and belly rufous-brown or grey-brown with whitish barrings. Bill grey with yellow cere. Iris and legs yellow.
Voice:
A disyllabic chi-kwee, with an upward inflection on the second note.
Range:
Breeding in far eastern Russia, northern China, Korea and Japan; wintering south to Southeast Asia and Indonesian Archipelago to New Guinea.
Status and distribution:
Passage migrant and winter visitor at low elevations.
Habitat:
Open country, lightly wooded areas.
Habits:
Usually solitary, hunting from tree perches. Migrates in very large flocks elsewhere, but only small parties have been counted from Peninsular Malaysia. Eats lizards, insects, possibly rats.
Interesting Facts:
The Grey-faced Buzzard is a handsome buzzard with a strong white eyebrow. It has a long wing, which often reaches the tail tip when it is perched.
This bird breeds in far eastern Russia, northern China, Korea and Japan. It travels all the way down to the Indonesian Archipelago, sometimes reaching New Guinea.
In its breeding ground it is a solitary raptor often hunting from tree perches. However it does travel in groups during the migrating months.
In Malaysia, during migratory periods these birds can be seen in hill forests.
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