Buteo buteo - Common Buzzard
Feather characters. Barbules are extremely long (2.0-4.0 mm), entangled and basal internodes contain lightly stippled pigment. Concentration of pigment gradually decreases distally. Slightly thickened nodes (10-12 per mm) are located on proximal end of barbules. Over a short distance these nodes abruptly decrease in size. Further along the barbule, nodal structures are too small to qualify as nodes. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are mostly located on proximal end of barbules on both sides of the pennulum. Occasionally minute prongs are found on other parts of barbules. Occasionally prongs are asymmetric.
Field characters. Length 51-57 cm; wingspan 113-128 cm. Weight: male 781 g (427-1183), female 969 g (486-1364) (Dunning, 1993). In flight shows broad, rounded wings, slightly rounded and relatively short tail, and short neck. Adult very variable, usually with upperparts dark brown and underparts mottled and barred or streaked with white and brown; the amount of white on underparts and underwing varies considerably. Soars for long periods of time on wings raised in shallow V and with tail well spread. Flies with rather fast, stiff and shallow wing-beats, giving the impression of rather laboured flapping. Differs from Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus, not included in BRIS) in brown-grey tail with narrow, inconspicuous bands, and one broader terminal band (Rough-legged has white tail with a black terminal band), less distinct carpal patches on underwing, and unfeathered, yellow tarsi; occasionally hovers. Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) soars on flat wings, has a small Cuckoo-like head and longer wings and tail (with different banding). Eastern subspecies vulpinus, Steppe Buzzard, is more rusty-coloured and resembles Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) but is smaller and shorter winged, has faint banding on the entirely rusty tail (tail of Long-legged lacks banding and is often paler at the base), has a darker head and usually lacks Long-legged's contrast between dark belly and creamy breast.
Voice. Usual call is a far-carrying, plaintive, mewing "peeioo".
Distribution. Fairly common summer visitor and resident. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Occurs in a variety of habitats, ranging from agricultural country with trees, woodlands, uncultivated mountainous areas to rocky coasts.
Food. Hunts for prey (a) by soaring over open terrain, (b) from a perch and scanning surroundings, (c) while walking on ground. Variable diet, principally consisting of small mammals, but including also birds, reptiles, amphibians, large insects, and earthworms.