The largest common bird of prey in the UK. Buzzards tend to habitat countryside with small areas of woodland in which to take cover and nest.

It is the Buzzard that you are most likely to see, soaring high on the thermals with its wings outstretched to get as much lift as possible. The Buzzard will eat almost anything, from earthworms to rabbits. He is not a great hunter so often resorts to carrion (animals that are already dead) such as road kills, going for the easy option.

The Eyes
The Buzzard has very keen eyesight, possibly 3 to 5 times better than our own. They are brown in colour, and are best adapted for daylight hunting but will feed at dusk also.

The Beak
The hooked beak of the Buzzard is very strong, as are his neck muscles. Like all of the raptors, he will hold his kill in his talons; hook his beak into the prey and tear off pieces of food by pulling with his strong neck.

The Wings
The wings of the Buzzard are very broad and quite long. One of his methods of hunting is to soar high on the thermals, constantly scanning the ground below. At the ends of each wing are feathers that look rather like fingers. These act like the flaps on an airliner.

The Feet
This is perhaps one of the Buzzards weakest areas. In relation to his size, his talons although powerful, are rather small. This restricts the size of prey that he can catch and hold effectively.

Buzzard Summary
1. The Common Buzzard is the species most likely to be seen in the UK.
2. It prefers open area with some woodland to take cover and nest.
3. The Common Buzzard nearly died out due to a disease that had a serious effect on the rabbit population.
4. When soaring, the Buzzard is often mistaken for an Eagle.

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