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Order Birds of prey/Accipiterformes, Family Hawks/Accipitridae

Common Buzzard/Buteo buteo - Adult

The Common Buzzard  is a medium to Large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is usually resident all year, except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case of one subspecies.


The Common Buzzard measures between 40 and 58 cm (16 and 23 in) in length with a 109–136 cm (43–54 in) wingspan and a body mass of 427–1,364 g (0.94–3.01 lb), making it a medium-sized raptor.

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 European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), which mimics the Common Buzzard's plumage for a degree of protection from Northern Goshawks. The plumage can vary in Britain from almost pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown, with a pale 'necklace' of feathers.


The Common Buzzard was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Falco buteo. Buzzard subspecies fall into two groups. The western Buteo group is 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. arrigonii: Corsica and Sardinia

B. b. menetriesi: Caucasus

B. b. harterti: Madeira, doubtfully distinct from nominate Buteo

The eastern vulpinus group includes

B. b. vulpinus (Steppe Buzzard): Eurasia: migrant breeder

B. b. burmanicus (Himalayan Buzzard): Himalayas and western China

B. b. japonicus: Japan: resident

B. b. toyoshimai: Izu Islands and Bonin Islands

B. b. oshiroi: Daito Islands

Two resident forms on islands close to Africa are often assigned to the first group, but appear to be distinct species, more closely related to the African Long-legged Buzzard, based on biogeography and preliminary mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Clouet & Wink 2000):

Buteo bannermani (Cape Verde Buzzard): Cape Verde Islands

Buteo socotraensis (Socotra Buzzard) of Socotra





Steppe Buzzard

The Steppe Buzzard, B. (b.) vulpinus breeds from east Europe eastward to the Far East, excluding Japan. It is a long-distance migrant, excepting some north Himalayan birds, and winters in Africa, India and southeastern Asia. In the open country favoured on the wintering grounds, steppe buzzards are often seen perched on roadside telephone poles.

Steppe Buzzard is some times split as a separate species, B. vulpinus. Compared to the nominate form, it is slightly smaller (45–50 cm long), longer winged and longer tailed. There are two colour morphs: the rufous form which gives this subspecies its scientific name (vulpes is Latin for "fox"), and a dark grey form.

The tail of vulpinus is paler than the nominate form, and often quite rufous, recalling North American Red-tailed Hawk. The upper wings have pale primary patches, and the primary flight feathers are also paler when viewed from below. Adults have a black trailing edge to the wings, and both morphs often have plain underparts, lacking the breast band frequently seen in B. b. buteo.

Forest Buzzard

The Forest Buzzard, B. (b.) trizonatus, is another form sometimes upgraded to a full species, though most recent authorities have placed it as a subspecies of another species, the Mountain Buzzard, B. oreophilus. This is a resident breeding species in woodlands in southern and eastern South Africa.

It is very similar to the abundant summer migrant Steppe Buzzard, but the adult can be distinguished with a good view by its whiter underparts and unbarred flanks. The juvenile differs from the same-age steppe buzzard by its white front and tear-shaped flank streaks.

The Forest Buzzard, as its name implies, inhabits evergreen woodlands, including introduced eucalyptus and pines, whereas the steppe buzzard prefers more open habitats. However, habitat alone is not a good indicator for these forms.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buteo_buteo

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