COMMON BUZZARD
(buteo buteo)
The Common Buzzard is a medium sized Raptor with broad,
rounded wings and a fairly short tail which it uses to soar
and glide effortlessly over hills and valleys. However, in
direct flapping flight the Common Buzzard's movements can
appear quite laboured and it prefers to still-hunt from a
convenient perch, gliding down to seize prey in its talons.
During the late 1950s, Buzzard numbers were dramatically
reduced when myxomatosis wiped out 99% of the rabbit
population, so depriving it of its major source of food.
The Buzzard has since been able to exploit other sources of
food including voles, young birds, amphibians, reptiles and
invertebrates, and is now beginning to re-colonise its old
range.
FACT
FILE:
LENGTH:
51 - 57cm (20 - 22ins)
WINGSPAN:
113- 128cm (44 - 50ins)WEIGHT:
0.4- 1.4kg (15oz - 31bs)HABITAT:
Buzzards build their nests in trees and sometimes on rocky
ledges. When breeding they favour woodland with some open
ground, but will also live on open moorland provided there
are some trees.CONSERVATION
STATUS:
20,000 pairs approx.