The augur buzzard (Buteo augur), also known as the north African jackal buzzard, is the only buzzard in Africa with a red tail. The species was named by the German naturalist Eduard Rüppell, who worked in North Africa and Ethiopia in the early 1800s. But it is not clear why it is called augur. The Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur) exhibits two different plumages with a dark morph more often seen in the eastern part of the range, and a normal morph with dark grey upperparts and white underparts. But the main feature of this species is the bright rufous tail visible in both plumages. The augur buzzard is found in eastern and southwestern Africa. The augur buzzard pounces on its prey from a high perch or from a hover. Augur buzzards are members of the Buteo genus, a group of hawks found all over the world and known for their broad wings, relatively short tails, and the ability to soar for long periods of time.
