Vulture vs. Buzzard: What’s the Difference?

Did you know that there is a difference between a vulture and a buzzard? While these names are often used interchangeably, vultures and buzzards are actually different species. But how do they differ, and how can you learn to tell them apart? In this article, we will address the various differences between vultures vs. buzzards, including their appearances, their unique diets, where they live, and their behavior. Keep reading to learn what sets these birds of prey apart.

Comparing Vultures vs. Buzzards

Key Differences Between Vultures and Buzzards

When seen from below, these birds may appear similar. Both vultures and buzzards are large birds with a tendency to soar. To understand how these birds are different, we’ll compare species classification, appearance, habitat preferences, behavior, and diet.

Species Classification

One difference between vultures and buzzards lies in their species classification. There are nearly 40 different species of vultures around the world, while there are only 20 or 25 species of buzzards. This is because vultures are members of two different families, based on whether they are Old World or New World species. The Cathartidae family includes New World vultures that inhabit the Americas. Accipitridae family members are the Old World vultures, hawks, and eagles of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Buzzards belong to the Buteo genus in the Accipitridae family.

While people in the U.S. tend to call vultures “buzzards,” it is important to note that they are different species. The confusion is believed to stem from early European settlers calling New World vultures “buzzards,” as vultures in the Americas resembled the large, soaring birds of prey found in Europe. Those in the U.S. also typically refer to Buteo buzzards as “hawks.”

Appearance

Vultures and buzzards also look different in their overall physical appearance. Vultures are known for having bald heads and necks that are free of feathers. Buzzards have fully feathered heads and necks. Vultures also have longer necks and beaks. However, buzzards have stronger feet and talons for grasping and carrying prey. Vultures have smaller feet and less powerful talons since they do not need to catch and carry their food.

The majority of vultures are larger than buzzards, although there is some variation depending on the species. For example, the largest vulture is the Andean condor, which weighs up to 33 pounds, reaches 4 feet tall, and has a wingspan of 10.5 feet. The largest Buteo buzzard is the upland buzzard, which weighs about 4.5 pounds, reaches 2.3 feet tall, and has a wingspan of up to 5 feet.

Vultures generally have longer wings that are well-adapted for soaring. They fly with their wings in a V-shape, which can make their flight appear less steady. Their larger bodies also move more slowly. Buzzards fly with their broad wings outstretched and have longer, more rounded tails. Buzzards are also more compact and agile in flight, as their bodies are built for hunting.

Diet

Another key difference between vultures and buzzards is their diet preferences. Vultures have a notorious reputation for eating dead animals, circling overhead while they wait for an animal’s death. Buzzards favor live prey. They hunt for small mammals such as rodents and rabbits, as well as reptiles and some birds. However, buzzards are opportunistic and will consume invertebrates and carrion when other resources are scarce.

Vultures are capable of sniffing out a dead animal carcass from miles away. For example, turkey vultures can detect odors that are just a few parts per trillion. The part of the brain that processes scent is also larger in vultures compared to other birds. Buzzards primarily use their keen eyesight in order to find their prey.

Habitat Preferences

Another difference between a vulture vs. a buzzard lies in their preferred habitats. Vultures tend to stick to locations with a wide variety of animals so that they can feast on dead or sick animals. Buzzards can adapt to many different climates, including open meadows and plains where they can easily hunt for live prey. Dietary preferences are some of the reasons that vultures and buzzards choose their home locations. However, there are other reasons as well.

Vultures’ bald heads make them more susceptible to heat loss and some species struggle to regulate their temperatures in cold climates. Vultures thrive in warmer areas with temperate winters, while buzzards remain largely unaffected by cold climates. As noted above, vultures can be found in both the Old World and the New World. Buzzards are native to the Old World. They are most commonly found in Europe and Asia, with some populations in northern Africa and in the islands of the Atlantic Ocean.

Behavior

One final difference between vultures vs. buzzards is their behavior. Vultures are far more social than buzzards. They frequently roost in large groups, feed together, and migrate together. Some vultures, such as the black vulture, the Andean condor, and Gyps vultures have complex social structures and strict hierarchies especially when feeding. Vultures may also mate for life and often stay together in family groups. Vulture parents have been documented to feed their young for months after they have fledged.

In contrast, buzzards are more solitary. However, they can sometimes be found in pairs during the breeding season and often mate for life. Their offspring also tend to stay close for several months after fledging, before leaving to find their own territory. Buzzards tend to be more territorial and will aggressively defend their boundaries. Some buzzards have been observed migrating together, and non-breeding animals may loosely gather, but they do not form the types of social groups found in vultures.