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Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

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The Common Buzzard is a medium-sized, broad-winged bird of prey and probably the most numerous diurnal raptor in Europe, ranging across the continent and far into the Palearctic. Its plumage varies from very dark to almost white. Many birds are resident, while those from colder or more eastern regions migrate south, some as far as southern Africa. Its cat-like mewing call and habit of circling on thermals make it a familiar sight over farmland and woodland edges.

Did you know?

  • It appears to be the most common diurnal raptor in Europe, with a global population in the millions.
  • Its plumage is so variable that no two birds look quite alike.

Voice

Call
Alarm call

About the species

Identification

A medium-sized, broad-winged hawk with a fairly short, broad tail and rounded wingtips. Plumage varies greatly from very dark to pale; many birds show a dark carpal patch on the underwing and a pale band across the breast. It often soars high in thermals and gives a mewing, cat-like call. Compared with Honey Buzzard it has broader, sturdier wings, a relatively larger head and shorter neck.

Family

Accipitridae

Size

Large (crow)

Colours

brown, white, yellow, black

About the habitat

A mosaic of open country and woodland: farmland, forest edges, clear-cuts, moorland and marsh fringes; nests in tall trees at woodland edges.

Diet

Mainly small mammals, especially voles and mice, but also rabbits, small birds, reptiles, amphibians, large insects, earthworms and carrion.

Behaviour

Often hunts from a perch, watching for movement and dropping on prey, or walks on fields picking up worms. Soars on thermals with wings held in a shallow V and gives a mewing “piiay” call. Pairs are territorial and perform undulating display flights in spring; the stick nest is built in a tall tree. A partial migrant.

Sources

Photo: caroline legg, CC BY 2.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common Buzzard by caroline legg (cropped).jpg

Sound: Benoît Van Hecke, XC538678, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://xeno-canto.org/538678

Sound: Benoît Van Hecke, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Picus_viridis_-_European_Green_Woodpecker_XC573514.mp3

Text: Wikipedia (English) + FinBIF species descriptions, CC BY-SA 4.0; FinBIF: CC BY 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_buzzard

See also