Photo by Stacie Cox
Buzzard
Quick Facts
Common Name: Buzzard
Scientific Name: Buteo buteo
Mature height: 51 - 57cm body length and a 113 - 128cm wingspan
Weight: 550 - 1,000g (male) and 700 - 1,300g (male)
Lifespan: 12 years average although oldest recorded is 30 years
Origin: Native
Information
The commonest and most widespread UK bird of prey.
The Buzzard has broad, rounded wings and is quite large. The neck and tail are short and the tail is fanned in flight and holds its wings in a shallow “V” when soaring or gliding.
Buzzards vary in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations, all have dark wingtips and a finely barred tail. Their call could be mistaken for a cat as it is a mewing call.
What they eat, small mammals, birds and carrion. They even eat earthworms and large insects when prey is in short supply.
There are approximately 79,000 breeding pairs in the UK.
Buzzards seldom move more than 50km from their nests and will have 1 brood per year and lay 2 - 3 eggs.