Common buzzard (Buteo buteo) complete detail – updated

Common buzzard (Buteo buteo) complete detail – updated. Description of Common buzzard (Buteo buteo). Classification of Common buzzard (Buteo buteo). Habit and habitat of Common buzzard (Buteo buteo). They prefer tree cover, woodland, bushes, farmland, and moors for nesting and roosting. 

The size of adult Common buzzard is between 45 to 57 cm. The weight of adult is between 450 to 1400 g. They have a wingspan of 110 to 135 cm. Common buzzard is generally a solitary bird, hunting and feeding alone. Sometime found in small groups or in pairs. The breast is barred and sometimes pale or dirty white, and the underside of the wings and tail are pale or dirty white.

There is usually a pale or paler white band on the breast. The upper parts are darker then the underparts, and the wingtip and trailing edge of the wing are also noticeably darker than the rest of the wing feathers. There is often barring on the tail and flight feathers, and white or pale streaking on the chest and throat. The head is rounded, the neck is short. The legs are strong and yellow in color. They have broad wings & a short tail, these enable soaring flight on thermals & ridge currents, when gliding or soaring it will often hold its wings in a ‘V’ shape. They have dark wingtips…………

They prefer woodlands, open fields and meadows. The breeding season is between March to May. To attract a female, the male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of spring. Pairs mate for life. Eggs 2 to 4, smooth and non-glossy, white with brownish or purplish blotches. Incubation period is between 33 to 36 days. Both sexes sharing the incubation………..

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Distinctive Identification

Common buzzard is a Schedule – IV bird, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

The size of adult Common buzzard is between 45 to 57 cm. The weight of adult is between 450 to 1400 g. They have a wingspan of 110 to 135 cm.

The body of Common buzzard is brown in color, with lighter markings beneath. There are large regional variations in body color, including dark brown, pale brown, chestnut, blackish-brown, reddish-brown, pale whitish-brown and brown with white mottling.

The breast is barred and sometimes pale or dirty white, and the underside of the wings and tail are pale or dirty white. There is usually a pale or paler white band on the breast.

The upper parts are darker then the underparts, and the wingtip and trailing edge of the wing are also noticeably darker than the rest of the wing feathers.

There is often barring on the tail and flight feathers, and white or pale streaking on the chest and throat. The head is rounded, the neck is short. The legs are strong and yellow in color.

They have broad wings & a short tail, these enable soaring flight on thermals & ridge currents, when gliding or soaring it will often hold its wings in a ‘V’ shape. They have dark wingtips.

The common buzzard has broad and rounded wings. In flight the wings have a ragged, moth-like appearance as this bird glides to and fro at a tremendous height.

Females are larger than the males, but males are able to rise on thermals faster & reach greater heights than females.

Classification

Common Name – Common buzzard

Local Lame – Baaz

Zoological Name – Buteo buteo

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Chordata

Class – Aves

Order – Accipitriformes

Family – Accipitridae

Genus – Buteo

Conservational Status – Schedule – IV, according to wildlife (Protection) act, 1972 and classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Distribution

The common buzzard is found in some parts of Asia, throughout Europe, Russia and Northern Africa.

Populations in Britain, southern Europe, India, Turkey, the Caucasus, Japan, and on the smaller islands are resident throughout the year.

Habit and habitat

They prefer woodlands, open fields and meadows. Common buzzard also found in moorland, scrub, pasture, arable, marsh bog, villages and cities. They prefer tree cover or bushes for nesting and roosting.

Common buzzard is generally a solitary bird, hunting and feeding alone. Sometime found in small groups or in pairs. Pairs mate for life.

Common buzzard is a carnivore bird, they feed on small rodents & mammals (including voles, mice, rats, moles, young rabbits and hares), birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and worms.

They can be seen perched on gate posts or branches from where they can lookout for prey. When spotted, the common buzzard makes a swift dive on half-closed wings and snatches its prey in its powerful talons.

The call of this species is a mewing “pee-yow” or “peea-ay”. They are good fliers (Top speed 40km/h). The age of sexual maturity is between 2 to 3 years. The breeding season is between March to May.

To attract a female, the male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of spring. Pairs mate for life.

They prefer tree cover, woodland, bushes, farmland, and moors for nesting and roosting. The nest is usually made from twigs, branches and lined with moss and bracken. Generally, the same nest is used year after year.

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Eggs 2 to 4, smooth and non-glossy, white with brownish or purplish blotches. Incubation period is between 33 to 36 days. Both sexes sharing the incubation.

Fledging occurs around 50 to 55 days after hatching, but the young continue to be fed by both parents for a further six to eight weeks. The average lifespan of Common buzzard is 15 to 20 years.