Buzzard Bird Facts | Buteo Buteo

How to identify

Now the most common and widespread UK bird of prey, the Buzzard is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring, it will often hold its wings in a shallow 'V' and the tail is fanned. Buzzards vary in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations, but all have dark wingtips and a finely-striped tail. Their mournful mewing call could be mistaken for a cat.

Call

Buzzard

Sander Bot / xeno-canto

Key features to look out for

Usually brown, with white undersides to the wings, but their plumage is quite variable
Adults have an obvious dark tail band and dark trailing edges to their wings
Long, broad wings with prominent ‘fingers’
Buzzards tend to hold their wings in a raised ‘V’ when soaring, whereas Red Kites hold their wings flat, or slightly downcurved
Short tail, often fanned in flight, which lacks the distinctive fork of a Red Kite’s
Yellow beak, with a black tip
Yellow legs
Often sits with a hunched posture
Not to be confused with the Honey Buzzard, which is a rare summer visitor to the UK. They glide with their wings held flat, tilting their tail like a kite. Their wings are not held raised in a ‘V’. They are neatly barred underneath, with a prominent small head.

Buzzard

What’s that bird of prey

From tiny Merlins to enormous White-tailed Eagles, the UK’s birds of prey come in all shapes and sizes. These masterful predators are a real treat to see, but they’re often super-fast and many species look quite similar, which can make identifying them a challenge. In this guide, we share some simple ID tips to help you.

Identify your bird of prey here

Conservation status

Buzzard numbers have recovered from a low point in the mid-1900s and they are now on the Birds of Conservation Concern Green List, meaning that they’re doing well.

Where to see them

Difficulty rating - Easy

Buzzards are birds of the countryside, so you’re unlikely to see one in urban areas. Look out for them perching on lampposts and fences at the side of roads or walking through fields. You could come across a Buzzard almost anywhere in the UK.

Key

Resident
Passage
Summer
Winter

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Behaviour

Buzzards soar on thermals high above woodlands, open countryside and even motorways, looking for prey, including rabbits, rodents and birds. They often feed on carrion, so you might see them feasting on roadkill, or even patrolling along the ground in search of earthworms.