🐦

Common Buzzard

Buteo buteo

1 photo

1 photographer

·Common · 1 pts

Our most common large raptor, often seen soaring.

1 community photo of Common Buzzard on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/640s shutter, 300mm.

Species Profile

Green List (common and stable population)

Lifespan: 12–25 years in the wild, with an average of around 12–15 years
Size & Weight: 51–57 cm; wingspan 109–125 cm; 370–1,050 g (females larger than males)
Habitat: Woodland edges, moorland, farmland, and open country with scattered trees or rocky outcrops for nesting and perching.
UK Distribution: Resident throughout the UK, found in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland; populations bolstered by continental migrants in winter.
Diet: Primarily small mammals such as rabbits, voles, and mice; also takes birds, amphibians, reptiles, and large insects.
Prey: Rabbits, voles, mice, shrews, small birds (skylarks, pigeons), frogs, and lizards
Predators: Golden eagles (in Scotland), peregrines, and occasionally goshawks; chicks may be taken by ravens and foxes
Mating Season: March to July
Breeding: Clutch of 2–3 eggs (occasionally 1–4); incubation period 28–35 days; single brood per year; fledging at 48–52 days
Behaviour: Solitary or in pairs; hunts by soaring and hovering, dropping onto prey from a height. Highly vocal during breeding season with distinctive mewing calls. Often perches on posts and hedges while hunting.

Did You Know?

•The Common Buzzard is the UK's most numerous raptor and has shown a dramatic increase in numbers since the 1950s following legal protection
•They can hover in the air for extended periods by facing into the wind, using a technique called 'kestrel-like' hovering
•Plumage is highly variable, ranging from pale cream to dark brown, making individual identification challenging
•Buzzards mate for life and may use the same nest year after year, adding fresh material and creating increasingly large structures
•They are surprisingly adaptable and have expanded their range northwards and into more urban areas in recent decades

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Shutter

1/640s

ISO Range

400

Aperture

f/f/5.6

Focal Length

300mm

🐦 Common Buzzard

Bird