Buteo trizonatus (near-endemic)

This endemic buzzard is easily confused with its larger counterpart; the steppe buzzard. Besides its smaller size, it can be separated from the steppe buzzard by its whiter underparts and irregular brown blotches (not bars) on its breast, flanks and thighs.

We first spotted this sought after buzzard in November 2010, while walking the Alpine trail along the Constantia Greenbelt. It was being dive-bombed by a couple of thrushes in a nearby garden.