Territory / Location

Common Buzzards cover most of Europe and extends into Asia. Over much of its range, it is resident year-round, but birds from the colder parts of the northern hemisphere typically migrate south (some well into the southern hemisphere) for the northern winter. 

Habitat

Open countryside with small areas of woodland or the edges of more densely wooded areas. With decreased persecution, they are often being found closer to populated areas, where they can scavenge waste.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Diet

Hunts over open land, a great opportunist, it adapts well to a varied diet of pheasant, rabbit, other small mammals to medium mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates & young birds and can often be seen walking over recently ploughed fields looking for worms and insects, though they will take, carrion often leading to them being accused of killing such things as new born lambs.

Size / Weight

Nesting

The common buzzard breeds in woodlands, usually on the fringes, Buzzard pairs mate for life.

Breeding starts between March and May laying 2-4eggs.

Life Expectancy

12-20 years old average age in the wild

28 years oldest recorded in the wild

30 years in captivity

Scientific 
Classification

KINGDOM

Animalia

PHYLUM

Chordata

CLASS

Aves

ORDER

Accipitriformes

FAMILY

Accipitridae

GENUS

Buteo

SPECIES

B.buteo

Did you know?

There are now around 40,000 breeding pairs in UK, still mainly on the western side of the country though occurring throughout Wales & Scotland. The main threat to Common Buzzards in this country is still illegal killing, both by shooting & poisoning.