Buzzard

Buteo buteo

Buzzard, or more correctly Common Buzzard, is one of the most common and familiar of all our birds of prey. After recovering from an all-time low in numbers, they have successfully returned to much of the country where they can now be seen soaring on characteristic upward-‘V’ held wings, flapping lazily along, or sitting patiently on posts or the ground. Often when sitting on posts they appear to be contemplating their feet!

Despite its familiarity, Buzzards can be confusingly variable in plumage. Normally, Buzzards are brown above and mostly heavily-marked white below. They are stocky birds with broad wings and broad, shortish tail and this shape can be an important clue to identifying odd-coloured individuals. Almost all Buzzards, regardless of overall colour, will have distinctive ‘elbow patches’ on the underside bend of the wing. They usually also show a pale ‘necklace’ across the lower neck/upper chest. Some birds are remarkably pale, and others can mimic Rough-legged Buzzard colouration, although build and habits should help to secure a correct identification,

Buzzard is a wide-spread species, occurring across of Europe and Asia, and with many populations wintering in Africa, Middle East and India. Many sub-species have been suggested, and there is a gradual cline towards the east of Europe where Buzzard is described as Steppe Buzzard, usually more rufous in colour. Many authorities argue that Steppe Buzzard is actually a separate species.

VITAL STATISTICS

Size: Average 54cm, wingspan 120cm. Females (1kg) heavier than males (780g).

Status. Resident breeder. Passage/winter visitor.

Population size. 67,000 pairs.

Conservation status: GREEN (Least concern).

Lifespan: Average age in the wild is 12 years. Adults have a 90% year-to-year survival. Young birds have a 63% chance of reaching their third year, when they will begin breeding. The oldest known wild bird was 30 years and 5 months old (ringing recovery).

Nesting: Buzzards nest in mature trees, building a large stick nest. Although usually obvious, Buzzards are stealthy near the nest and despite having a pair nearby, which can be obvious when displaying, locating the nest is a challenge!

Number of eggs: 2-3

Incubation: 34 days

Fledging time: 44-52 days

Habitat and Distribution: Buzzards are very widely distributed, and can be found in a range of habitats, from uplands and woodland to farmland and even urban areas. They are highly adaptable and, although shy, they readily get used to being in close proximity with humans. Buzzards numbers dropped very low, principally due to persecution and a lack of favoured Rabbit prey during the height of myxomatosis and it retracted back, becoming very much a species of the ‘Celtic fringe’ of western Britain. Numbers have been recovering and with this has been seen an easterly spread back into previous habitats. It is still scarce on Isle of Man and in western Ireland. Buzzard is now one of our most common raptors (along with Kestrel and Sparrowhawk).

Movements: Across its vast world range Buzzard is highly migratory, although in the UK it is usually resident. This is related to its winter diet of small mammals and/or invertebrates, both of which become very difficult to access under snow. Britain’s oceanic mild climate and low incidence of heavy snow cover means Buzzards can stay year-round. Numbers of Scandinavian birds can be encountered, especially in the east during passage and in winter, swelling our resident population.

Feeding: Buzzards are big birds, more than capable of taking sizeable birds or animals but, more often than not, they will target smaller prey. Rabbits are an important food source, and the birds suffered during the height of myxomatosis, but they will also take smaller mammals. Compared to all other raptors, Buzzard’s digestive systems are able to deal with a poor-quality diet, and in winter when other prey is hard to find, they are able to feed mostly on earthworms, beetles and other small invertebrates. These will be hunted on foot, and you can find Buzzards regularly sitting on the ground. In favoured fields, large numbers can gather and, although somewhat tolerant of each other, disagreements will break out if individuals get too close to others. In certain areas, usually in the uplands, Buzzards may hover when searching for food.