This species is an opportunistic hunter which take a wide variety of prey including small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, frogs, terrestrial crabs and other large arthropods.[1] In addition, scientists observing the behaviour of lemurs, in particular the ruffed lemur and verreaux's sifaka, have recorded them making alarm calls at the sight of a Madagascar buzzard, suggesting that they may occasionally be preyed upon too.[2]