Breeding biology and diet of the Madagascar Buzzard Buteo brachypterus in the Bemanevika Protected Area, Madagascar

The breeding biology and diet of the endemic Madagascar Buzzard Buteo brachypterus, in Bemanevika Protected Area, northern Madagascar, was studied in 2017 and 2018. Nest building occurred from early August to early September, egg laying from late August to early October, hatching between September and October and fledging between November and December. Laying peaked in September (n = 24 pairs). Twenty-four breeding pairs were observed of which nine pairs had one-egg clutch and fifteen pairs laid two-egg clutches. Average clutch size was 1.6 ± 0.5 eggs (n = 24 nests). The incubation period averaged 36.2 ± 1.1 days (range 35-38 days, n = 16 nests). Nestling periods averaged 48 ± 3.9 days of age (range 43-56 days, n = 16 nests). Of 39 eggs laid in the 24 breeding attempts, 34 (87.2%) hatched and 22 (64.7%) of those hatchling fledged. This study documented siblicide as cause of breeding failures. Of the 24 fully-documented breeding attempts, 0.91 young fledged per breeding attempt and overall nest success was 79.2%. Based on 515 identified prey items, the Madagascar Buzzards diet was composed of reptiles (37.3%), birds (35%), small mammals (19%), invertebrates (8.3%) and amphibians (0.4%).   Key words: Breeding biology, diet, endemic, Madagascar Buzzard, Bemanevika, Protected Area.