much local and even annual variation in distribution and abundance. Biology The grasshopper buzzard feeds mainly on insects although it will also take small birds, rodents and reptiles. It hunts from a low perch, looking for large insects, which are its main prey, catching them on the ground, or sometimes on the wing after a brief aerial chase. The grasshopper buzzard is quite sociable and is often seen in groups of 50 to 100 birds, most frequently in recently burnt areas where there are insect emergences. Grasshopper buzzards are specialists in catching grasshoppers during the non-breeding season; when breeding they consume a range of insects, mostly grasshoppers and beetles, also scorpions and sun spiders. The bulk of their breeding season diet is dominated by reptiles and other vertebrates: frogs, rodents, and birds are also regularly taken during this time. Breeding season for grasshopper buzzards is between March and May in the northern part of the range, but laying depends on the region. The nest is placed in a fork of tree, in low tree, or sometimes at about above the ground in taller trees. The nest is made with sticks, with a cup in the centre, lined with green leaves. One to three bluish-white eggs, with some dark markings, are laid. The details of the incubation and nesting behaviour are not known although fresh green leaves are added to the nest throughout the nesting period. Grasshopper buzzards occur at quite high densities with up to 3.3 nests per square kilometre and with distances between nests of less than in high-quality habitat. The home ranges overlap and birds regularly fly over neighboring territories on foraging flights. References grasshopper buzzard Birds of the Sahel Birds of prey of Sub-Saharan Africa grasshopper buzzard Taxonomy articles created by Polbot