Buzzard

The Buzzard is fairly easy to identify, although the species is highly variable in plumage.

What do Buzzards look like?

Buzzards are stocky raptors with broad wings and large feet with long talons. They are usually dark brown above, with varying amounts of paler plumage on their undersides. They have yellow legs and ceres (bill bases). The bill tip is black, and they have light to dark brown eyes.

Plumage varies considerably among individual Buzzards, and they are often classified as pale, intermediate, and dark morphs.

Seen from below, all flying birds have five dark primary feathers visible on each wing tip, and the trailing edge of each wing is usually dark. Their barred tail is fanned out in flight, and each wing is lifted slightly to form a 'V-shaped' profile.

Female Buzzards are usually larger than males, although they appear very similar in other respects. You may be able to distinguish between them when a pair is perched together, but behavioural differences during nesting can be more reliable.

Juvenile Buzzards resemble adults but are paler with streaked (not barred) underparts.

These birds could be mistaken for Honey Buzzards, Marsh Harriers, and Red Kites. Read this guide to birds of prey in the UK for a closer look at those species.

How big are Buzzards?

The Buzzard is highly variable in weight, although their length and wingspans are fairly constant. These are large birds of prey, much bigger than a Kestrel but significantly smaller than a Golden Eagle.

Length

These birds have a body length of 51 to 57 centimetres. Their tails are about 21cm long, their bill is just over 2cm long, and their lower legs are approximately 7.5cm long.

Weight

Adult male Buzzards weigh 427 to 1183 grams, depending on the individual and the time of year. Females are about 15% heavier at 486 to 1364 grams.

Wingspan

The Buzzard has a wingspan of 113 to 128 centimetres. Males are smaller on average.

What sound does a Buzzard make?

Buzzards produce a drawn-out ‘kee-aaah’ call that lasts about a second. This cat-like call is often the first sign of their presence as they soar above.

Why do Buzzards call?

Buzzards call for a variety of reasons. They vocalise when chasing other Buzzards out of their territory, when alarmed by humans or predators, and when arriving back at their nest.

Buzzards are widespread and occur in several habitats. Continue reading to learn where you might spot these common raptors.

What is the habitat of a Buzzard?

Buzzards are habitat generalists. Look out for them in farmland, woodland, moorland, and even towns and cities.

What is the range of a Buzzard?

Buzzards breed throughout the United Kingdom and the eastern half of Ireland. Elsewhere, this widespread species ranges east as far as Mongolia and south to the southern tip of Africa.

Where do Buzzards live?

Buzzards spend much time watching for prey from prominent perches like fence poles, pylons, and trees.

They are not particularly nimble on the ground, although they often perch in arable fields and meadows to feed. These birds of prey are comfortable in flight and spend extended periods soaring, often hundreds of meters above the ground.

How rare are Buzzards?

The Buzzard is not rare in the UK. In fact, they are the most common bird of prey in the region and an everyday sighting for many people. There were an estimated 63,000 breeding pairs in the UK in 2016.

Where can you see Buzzards in the UK?

You can see Buzzards throughout the United Kingdom, although they are most common in the Southwest, Wales, Scotland, and the Lake District.

Given their large wingspans, buzzards are adept at riding thermals and can therefore most often been seen on warm sunny days circling in the sky above.

Their wings form a shallow V-shape when soaring. Buzzards are known as lazy birds, so they will often be found perched on pylons or telephone poles, watching out for prey when they are not gliding through the air.

The unique cat-like sound of their call is also a giveaway that they are nearby.

Do Buzzards migrate?

Buzzards are highly migratory in many parts of their global range, although they are resident throughout the year in the United Kingdom. Most individuals stay within an area of a hundred kilometres.

Are Buzzards native to the UK?

Buzzards are native to the United Kingdom and are present throughout the year. They were absent from much of the eastern UK for upwards of a century, but have since made a strong comeback.

The Buzzard is an opportunistic hunter that eats a variety of prey animals. Continue reading to learn more about their diet in the UK.

What do Buzzards eat?

Buzzards are purely carnivorous, although they are not fussy about choosing their prey. Voles and other rodents are their major prey source, but they will eat a variety of animals, including invertebrates and carrion when available.

The Buzzard is known to eat the following animals:

• Rodents and shrews
• Birds like pigeons and starlings, and up to the size of partridges and pheasants
• Young rabbits and hares
• Reptiles like lizards and snakes
• Frogs and toads
• Beetles, earthworms and other invertebrates

Check out our complete guide on the diet and feeding behaviour of a Buzzard.

What do Buzzard chicks eat?

Both male and female Buzzards feed their chicks strips of meat and other manageable morsels. The male provides food for the first two weeks, but the female brings most food after the first month. The young will be fed periodically for up to two months after leaving the nest.

Where do Buzzards nest?

Buzzards nest in every county of the UK and typically build their nests in trees and cliffs. Both males and females work together to construct the nest, which can measure up to 1.5 meters across.

Check out our comprehensive guide on Buzzard nesting for more information.

What do Buzzard eggs look like?

Buzzards usually lay two to four eggs that measure 55 millimetres long and 44 millimetres wide on average. Their eggs are white with red-brown markings.

Do Buzzards mate for life?

Buzzards form long-lasting pairs, and they usually mate for life. They often use alternate nests each year within their nesting territory, although there is a record of a single nest used for thirteen consecutive years.

Are Buzzards aggressive?

The Buzzard is generally non-aggressive, although attacks on humans have been recorded. Avoid approaching their nest during the breeding season to minimise the chance of aggressive interactions.

These birds may be aggressive towards their own species when chasing intruders from their territory. They will also fight with other Buzzards, Crows, Magpies, and other birds of prey like Red Kites when feeding on animal carcasses.

Where do Buzzards sleep at night?

Buzzards usually sleep in the safety of tall trees.

Why do Buzzards sit in fields?

It is not unusual to see Buzzards perched in fields, sometimes in good numbers. They are attracted by worms and other ground invertebrates, often after rain or ploughing operations.

The Buzzard has made a remarkable comeback in the United Kingdom, with numbers rebounding from a low of just 1000 breeding pairs in the early 20th century. Keep reading to learn about their threats and conservation status.

How long do Buzzards live?

The Buzzard can live for at least 28 years, although their average life expectancy is much lower at about eight years.

What are the predators of Buzzards?

Healthy adult Buzzards have few predators. However, injured and sick individuals may fall prey to various carnivores. Animals like foxes and wild cats could potentially hunt healthy adults, and Golden Eagles would have no problem dispatching these smaller raptors.

Are Buzzards protected?

The Buzzards is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.

Are Buzzards endangered?

The Buzzard is not an endangered species. They have a green conservation status in the United Kingdom and are listed as a ‘Least Concern’ species according to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature).

While the Buzzard is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces threats from habitat loss and illegal persecution.

In some areas, particularly in the UK, populations have recovered significantly following past declines due to pesticide use and hunting.