Common Buzzard

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Common Buzzard
Conservation status
Least concern (LC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Buteo Species: B. buteo
Binomial name
Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a bird of prey from the Old World. It is typically between 51-57 cm in length with a 110 to 130 cm wingspan, making it a medium-sized raptor. Its range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is resident except in the coldest parts of its range.

It breeds in woodland, but usually hunts over open land. It eats mainly small mammals, and will come to carrion.

Buzzards do not normally form flocks, but several may be seen together on migration or in good habitat. The Victorian writer on Dartmoor, William Crossing, noted that he had on occasions seen flocks of 15 or more at some places.

This broad-winged raptor has a wide variety of plumages, and in Europe can be confused with the similar Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) and the only distantly related Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), which mimics the Common Buzzard's plumage for a degree of protection from Northern Goshawks.

The call is a plaintive peea-ay, similar to a cat's meow.

[edit] Taxonomy

Buzzard subspecies fall into two groups

The western Buteo group are mainly resident or short-distance migrants. They are:

• Buteo buteo buteo most of Europe
• B. b. rothschildi Azores
• B. b. insularum Canary Islands
• B. b. bannermani Cape Verde Islands
• B. b. arrigonii Corsica and Sardinia
• B. b. menetriesi Caucasus
• B. b. harterti Madeira seems to be identical to nominate buteo

The eastern vulpinus group are long-distance migrants. they include

• B. b. vulpinus (Steppe Buzzard) Eurasia
• B. b. japonicus Japan

[edit] Gallery

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Buteo buteo. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

• Madeira Birds - Buzzard