Nest Site Characteristics of the Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus

Abstract

The habitat of 52 nest sites of the Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus was examined in a low mountain region of central Japan. Most (90-100%)of nest trees were within 600 m of a stream and paddy field on the valley bottom. Therefore, the availability of wet areas which offer food (e.g.frogs and snakes) may be an important factor affecting the nest site selection. Eighty-eight percent of nest trees were on the middle or lower portions of steep slopes, irrespective of the direction of the slope aspect.Sixty-nine percent of nest trees were either trees at the forest edge or prominent trees within the forest. So, the accessibility for birds approaching the nest may also be an important factor.