Black Baza

Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes) is a small black and white raptor with long erectile crest. When perched it has an unmistakable black, white and chestnut pattern. Wings are broad and rounded. The lower breast is black in color tipped with white, and separated from the rest of the underside by a broad chestnut band. The belly and flanks are white barred with chestnut brown. The tail itself is silver grey below.

It is a shy bird and is commonly seen in evergreen forests very near to water bodies, collecting flying insects. Diet consists of insects, small vertebrates and even small birds.

The bird likes open deciduous forests with glades and broad streams running through them, or bamboo forests.