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Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard Facts
| Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
| Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
| Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Aves |
| Order: A group of animals within a class | Accipitriformes |
| Family: A group of animals within an order | Accipitridae |
| Genus: A group of animals within a family | Buteo |
| Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Buteo Buteo |
| Type: The animal group that the species belongs to | Bird |
| Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Carnivore |
| Size (L): How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 51cm - 57cm (20in - 22in) |
| Wingspan: The measurement from one wing tip to the other | 110cm - 130cm (48in - 60in) |
| Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 400g - 1400g (15oz - 48oz) |
| Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 40km/h (25mph) |
| Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 12 - 20 years |
| Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Solitary |
| Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Least Concern |
| Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | White, Black, Grey, Brown |
| Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Feathers |
| Favourite Food: The preferred food of this animal | Rabbit |
| Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | Countryside and woodland |
| Average Clutch Size: The average number of eggs laid at once | 3 |
| Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Rabbit. Pheasant, Lizards |
| Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Fox, Eagle, Wildcats |
| Distinctive Features: Characteristics unique to this animal | Small head and curved beak |
Common Buzzard Location
Common Buzzard
The common buzzard is a medium sized raptor, most commonly found throughout Europe and Russia. Despite rapid declines in the UK's common buzzard population numbers a couple of hundred years ago, the common buzzard is now the most common bird of prey in Britain.
The common buzzard is found throughout Europe and Russia and also in parts of Asia and Northern Africa, where the common buzzard spends the cooler winter months. The common buzzard is found in a variety of habitats particularly woodland, moorland, scrub, pasture, arable, marsh bog, villages and even in towns and cities.
Like other medium to large sized birds of prey, the common buzzard is a generally solitary animal, hunting and feeding alone. However, it is not uncommon to see small groups of common buzzards flying together when migrating, with as many as 30 common buzzards being spotted at once.
The common buzzard is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail and when gliding or soaring it will often hold its wings in a 'V' shape. Common buzzards are variable in colour from dark brown to tan, although all have dark wingtips and a finely barred tail. The call of the common buzzard resembles a mewing sound and can easily be mistaken for a cat.
The common buzzard is a large and opportunistic predator, surviving on a purely carnivorous diet. The common buzzard primarily preys on small mammals (such as rodents) and birds, along with a variety of other animals including insects, earthworms, snakes and carrion.
Due to the fact that the common buzzard is a fast and effective flyer, the common buzzard has few predators in the skies besides larger birds of prey such as eagles. On land however, the common buzzard is preyed upon by a number of ground-dwelling predators including wildcats and foxes.
Common buzzard pairs are known to mate for life and make their nest in plentiful habitats such as on the outskirts of forest or woodland. The female common buzzard lays 2 to 4 eggs which hatch after being incubated by her for about 1 month. The common buzzard chicks leave the nest (fledge) when they are about 45 days old, after being cared for by their parents (mainly the mother).
Despite once being nearly wiped out in the United Kingdom, today common buzzard populations are now thriving not only here but also across Europe, with the common buzzard being Europe's second most common raptor behind the common kestrel.
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Are you Safe?Common Buzzard Translations
Обикновен мишелов
Aligot comú
Káně lesní
Musvåge
Mäusebussard
Common Buzzard
Buteo
Buteo buteo
Buse variable
עקב חורף
Obični škanjac
Poiana
Buizerd
ノスリ
Myszołów zwyczajny
Águia-de-asa-redonda
Kanja
Hiirihaukka
Ormvråk
Bayağı şahin
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First Published: 5th July 2010, Last Updated: 8th November 2019
1. Christopher Perrins, Oxford University Press (2009) The Encyclopedia Of Birds [Accessed at: 05 Jul 2010]
2. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 05 Jul 2010]
3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
4. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 05 Jul 2010]
5. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 05 Jul 2010]
6. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 05 Jul 2010]
"We have several Buzzards residing just off the South Downs which regularly soar and circle above us making their unusual screeching. One has become very confident and most evenings will scour our front lawn for food. Coincidentally we have found unusual black feces which, upon close inspection, (not our hobby - but out of curiosity) contain beetles, bugs and other unusual items. We think this must be from our 'local' resident Buzzard. Has anyone got other ideas? Thanks, Mick. (Hooe, Sussex)"