The augur buzzard (Buteo augur) is a fairly large African bird of prey. This species is distinct in typical adult plumage for its blackish back, whitish underside and orange-red tail, however a dark morph is known while juvenile augur buzzards are generally rather brown in colour. This member of the Buteo genus is distributed in several parts of the central and southern Africa, normally being found from Ethiopia to southern Angola and central Namibia. It is resident and non-migratory throughout its range. This is a species of mountains (most typically at about altitude, but up to ), and adjacent savannah and grassland. This is a typical buteonine raptor, being a generalist predator which tends to prefer small mammals supplemented by reptiles and birds among various prey items. Taxonomy The taxonomy on this species is not settled, with some taxonomists considering this species, the jackal buzzard, and Archer's buzzard to be within the same superspecies. As noted by taxonomists, each species is fairly distinct, having different calls and variations in plumage. While the augur and jackal have rarely been considered actually conspecific, the Archer's buzzard is sometimes considered improbably as a subspecies of the jackal buzzard despite a number of outward distinctions and having a rather allopatric and restricted distribution. The three species may be classified as belonging to a species complex. In 2022, the International Ornithological Congress tentatively assigned Archer's buzzard as being a subspecies of the augur buzzard (Buteo augur archeri). However, it may simply represent a color morph. Presently, two subspecies are recognized: B. a. augur (Rüppell, 1836) - Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe, Angola south to central Namibia B. a. archeri Sclater, WL, 1918 (Archer's buzzard) - montane northern Somalia Description Augur buzzards are one of two larger Buteo species native to Africa, alongside their cousins, the similarly sized jackal buzzard. Adults measure about with a large wingspan of . Males weigh from while females weigh from . A small sample of 5 augur buzzard weighed an average of while 22 birds averaged in wingspan. The adult augur buzzard is strikingly plumaged and essentially unmistakable if seen well. It is an almost black brown above with a rufous tail that stands out strongly in contrast. The primary flight feathers are blackish and the secondaries off-white, both barred with black. Below the chin and around the throat is mainly white, and the rest of the underparts and the underwing