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Trees- ShrubsCommon Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
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There are over 20 species within the genus Buteo, however the term ‘buzzard’ is often used for species found in other genus’ as well (1). B. buteo is a very common and widespread bird of prey. It can be found throughout much of Europe. B. buteo is approximately 50 to 57cm in length with a wing span of 113 to 128 cm. This species can live for up to 25 years. B. buteo has a short, broad head, rounded, hunched shoulders and a dark, rich brown body with a pale, white ‘U’ across its bib. It also has a pale finely barred tail. In flight it is recognisable by its pale, barred under-wings which have dark tips (2).
The unmistakable ‘mewing’ of this bird can be heard when it is in full flight, it may also utter a noisy pee-yaah.
It is a very familiar site with its ability of being able to hang motionless in the wind while searching for food. A field experiment by Krüger (2002) showed that the breeding success of Buteo buteo was reduced when introduced to dummy birds and playback calls; in this case that of the Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). Furthermore buzzards that did not breed were extremely unlikely to select the same nest site again (3).
The main habitats of this species include woodlands, moors, uplands, hills, and farmland. In recent times they have encroached into town and city areas (2).
The Common Buzzard will have one brood per year and will usually lay three to four eggs (usually between March and June). The location of the nest will be in trees or rock ledges consisting of twigs and leafy sticks.
This species demonstrates a large global range of approximately 10,000,000km2 and the IUCN highlight that there may be around four million individuals worldwide (4). In Greece Buteo buteo is a common and widespread resident as well as a wintering resident. They demonstrate a thin distribution throughout the mainland and many of the islands (5).
Much of the European population are yearly residents except for parts of NE Europe and Scandinavia. These birds will fly south for the winter months.
This species eats a variety of animals such as: rodents, smalls birds, reptiles, amphibians and is also an opportunist for some carrion (6).
IUCN Red List = Least Concern (4)
Description written by Maite Guignard (2009)
(1) Avian Web (2006) Buzzard [online] Available:
http://www.avianweb.com/buzzards.html [date accessed: 17/06/2009]
(2) Hume. R. (2002) Complete Birds of Britain and Europe, Dorling Kindersley Limited, London
(3) Krüger. O. (2002) Interactions between common buzzard Buteo buteo and goshawk Accipiter gentilis: trade-offs revealed by a field experiment, Oikos, 96: 441-452
(4) IUCN (2008) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species [online] Available: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/144478 [date accessed: 09/03/2009]
(5) Handrinos. G., and Akriotis. T. (1997) The Birds of Greece, A & C Black, London
(6) Natural England (2006) Buzzard – Buteo buteo – Family: Falconidae [online] Available: http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/search.php?name=Buteo%20buteo&pl=5&adv=1&ot=&r=0&g=0&p=1&o=4 [date accessed: 30/04/2009]
