Species of the week: Long-legged Buzzard

Species of the week:
Long-legged Buzzard(Buteo rufinus)

1. It can grow from 43-58 cm in length and have a wingspan of 100-155cm.
2. It has three colour types: white, rufous and black. 
3. They can be found in semi-arid areas as well as semi-deserts and steppee.
4. It's a bird of prey and forages food by hovering and soaring and scanning for prey by a vantage point.
5. They prefer to hunt in open spaces where they can use their eyesight to spot prey.
6. It feeds on small mammals, insects and reptiles.
7. They often reconstruct nests used by other birds to give birth to their eggs.
8. They lay three to five eggs, once a year.
9. The eggs are incubated for 30-35 days and the hatchlings remain at the nest for 43-45 days.
10. They are listed as "Least Concern"by the IUCN but some populations have been declining lately.