Common Buzzard

The common buzzard is very skilled when it comes to hunting techniques. They will firstly locate the prey then glide only a metre or two above the ground then snatch prey. They can attack prey as big as rabbits and hares.

Size

Because the buzzard is a species of bird they have hollow bones with only some bones containing marrow which makes the bird a lot more lighter even for it’s size. Male buzzards can weigh 427g to 1,183g (0.427 to 1.183kg) and females around 486g to 1,370g (0.486 to 1.37kg). Although their wingspan can be up to 1.2m.

Location

The buzzard is a very adaptable bird of prey so is found nearly worldwide in most places with enough food sources and habitats to sustain populations. They can be found in most of Europe, a few countries in Asia but it’s wintering range can stretch across North Africa. Their habitat includes grassland, woodland and open farmland.

Population

As you can tell by the name, The common buzzard is very common but just how common is it? Well the European population alone consists of around 1.2 million birds across their range. But the worldwide population is about 3.5 million individuals which makes it least concern on the IUCN red list.

Accipitridae Family Group

The common buzzard is in the family group Accipitridae which contains many other raptors such as eagles, buzzards, hawks, vultures, kites, and harriers. This group is found worldwide from Northern most parts of North America to the Southern islands of Australia. All of these birds are diurnal which means they hunt at dusk and dawn.

Diet

They have quite a varied diet which is one of the main reasons they have got such a big range. These raptors will eat many species of small mammals out in grasslands. They will eat carrion, lizards and even if food supplies are short, they will snatch small insects from their fight. Their talons and sharp beak make it a spectacular hunter.

Predators

Because of their deadly talons and fierce size, common buzzards aren’t easy to mess with which is why they do not have any natural predators. Despite this, the buzzards will be harassed simultaneously by crows and other large birds if they attempt to steal eggs or pose a threat. They used to be hunted for their feathers but are now protected.

Fun Facts

Did you know that buzzards are the most common species of raptor in the UK currently. Males and Females can also be identified by the length of their front talon to their back talon; females have got a longer length than males.