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© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Buteo auger (Rüppell, 1836) Auger Buzzard
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle The Bald Eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It builds the largest nest of any North American bird, up to 4 meters (13 ft) deep, 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) wide, and one metric ton (1.1 tons) in weight, and reaches sexual maturity at four years or five years of age.
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Buteo auger (Rüppell, 1836) Auger Buzzard The taxonomy on this species is confusing, with some taxonomists considering this species, the Jackal Buzzard, and the Archer's Buzzard to be the same superspecies. Many taxonomists consider them all to be distinct, having different calls, different home ranges and variations in plumage. This is a species of mountains (most typically at about 2000 m altitude, but up to 5000 m), and adjacent savannah and grassland. It is resident and non-migratory throughout its range. It is normally found from Ethiopia to southern Angola and central Namibia. Pairs have noisy aerial displays, including outside the breeding season. The large (up to 1 m wide) stick nest is built in a tree or on a crag, and is often reused and enlarged in subsequent seasons. Two creamy or bluish white eggs are laid and incubated by the female only, although food is brought to her on the nest by the male. The eggs hatch in about 40 days, and after a further 56–60 days they can attempt flight. At 70 days they become independent of the nest, but young birds may then be seen with the adult pair for some time. The diet of the Augur Buzzard is mainly small ground mammals, but snakes, lizards, small ground birds, insects, and road-kill are also taken. Typically, the raptor drops on its prey from a perch or hover.
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) Redtail Hawk A rare blonde-headed bird. Diet: The Red-tailed Hawk is carnivorous, and an opportunistic feeder. Its diet is mainly small mammals, but it also includes birds and reptiles. Prey varies with regional and seasonal availability, but usually centers on rodents, comprising up to 85% of a hawk's diet. Most commonly reported prey types include mice, including both native Peromyscus species and house mice, gophers, voles, chipmunks, ground squirrels and tree squirrels. Additional prey (listed by descending likelihood of predation) include lagomorphs, shrews, bats, pigeons, quail, corvids, waterfowl, other raptors, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insects and earthworms. Where found in Caribbean islands, Red-tailed Hawks prey mostly on reptiles such as snakes and lizards, since these are perhaps the most predominant native land animals of that region. Prey specimens can range to as small a size as beetles and worms. However, they can also prey on marmots, White-tailed Jackrabbits, small domestic dogs, domestic cats, or female Wild Turkey, all of which are easily double the weight of most Red-tails. Although they prefer to feed on fresh prey they've killed themselves, these hawks are not above occasionally consuming carrion. During winter in captivity, an average Red-tail will eat about 135 g (4–5 oz) daily.
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Buteo auger (Rüppell, 1836)
Auger Buzzard
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved. Buteo auger (Rüppell, 1836) Auger Buzzard
© Joseph W. Dougherty. All rights reserved.

Buteo auger (Rüppell, 1836)
Auger Buzzard
See photo in original gallery.
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