European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestPlatform nestLarge · 754 g

What the European Honey Buzzard sounds like

Sonogram of the European Honey Buzzard: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Benoît Van Hecke · Flight call · Saint-Georges-lès-Baillargeaux, Vienne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

The 52–60-centimetre (20–24 in)-long honey buzzard is larger and longer winged, with a 135–150-centimetre (53–59 in) wingspan, when compared to the smaller common buzzard (Buteo buteo). It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than the Buteo buzzard, usually with two narrow dark bars and a broad dark subterminal bar. The sexes can be distinguished on plumage, which is unusual for a large bird of prey. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the European Honey Buzzard

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 5 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is September, the month with the most records.

Where to see the European Honey Buzzard

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 100 countries with regular records, and 7 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in India, Mauritania, Turkmenistan, Iceland, San Marino, Sudan, Isle of Man.

About the European Honey Buzzard

The European honey buzzard, also known as the pern or common pern, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Crested Honey Buzzard vs European Honey Buzzard

Learn the European Honey Buzzard in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.