Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a common kites, old world vultures, eagles, and hawk found in 121 countries, weighing about 759 g. The common buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey with a large range.
About the Common Buzzard
The common buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey with a large range. It is a member of the genus Buteo in the family Accipitridae. The species lives in most of Europe and extends its breeding range across much of the Palearctic as far as northwestern China, far western Siberia and northwestern Mongolia. Over much of its range, it is a year-round resident. However, buzzards from the colder parts of the Northern Hemisphere as well as those that breed in the eastern part of their range typically migrate south for the northern winter, many journeying as far as South Africa.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The common buzzard is a medium-sized raptor that is highly variable in plumage. Most buzzards are distinctly round headed with a somewhat slender bill, relatively long wings that either reach or fall slightly short of the tail tip when perched, a fairly short tail, and somewhat short and mainly bare tarsi. They can appear fairly compact in overall appearance but may also appear large relative to other more common raptorial birds such as kestrels and sparrowhawks.
What the Common Buzzard sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea, Cambodia, Nepal, Central African Republic, Senegal.
When to see it
The Common Buzzard can be seen all year round, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Common Buzzard on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Common Buzzard?
- The common buzzard is a medium-sized raptor that is highly variable in plumage. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Common Buzzard?
- The Common Buzzard is a large sized bird weighing about 759 g.
- Where can you see a Common Buzzard?
- The Common Buzzard occurs in 121 countries, including Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany.
- What does a Common Buzzard sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Common Buzzard on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Common Buzzard?
- The Common Buzzard is most easily confused with the Red-shouldered Hawk, the Broad-winged Hawk and the Rough-legged Buzzard.
- Is the Common Buzzard endangered?
- The Common Buzzard is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Common Buzzard for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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