Page 139 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Pernis apivorus
Honey Buzzard dark head (often
whiter on juvenile)
yellow eye (dark
on juvenile)
soars with wings
flat or drooped tiger-striped
underwings and
underparts
long wings,
angled on
three dark
bands on leading edge
tail
“tiger-striped”
underparts

ADULT ADULT
IN FLIGHT

dark bands
on base of
tail
ADULT

narrow, Cuckoo- long tail, widest
like head with in centre
pointed bill
ADULT

ot a true buzzard at all, this is a unique raider of wasp and bee FLIGHT: direct flight easy with elastic, deep wing-
Nnests, even walking about on the ground and digging out wax beats; soars with wings bowed or flattish, tips drooped.
and grubs with its feet. It is secretive when breeding and more easily
seen on migration, as it concentrates on short sea crossings over the
Baltic and the Mediterranean on its way to and from tropical Africa.
Exceptionally variable in colour and pattern, it requires
careful observation for positive identification.
VOICE Infrequent whistling peee-haa, pee-ee-aah.
NESTING Small platform of sticks and greenery in tree,
often on old crow’s nest; 1–3 eggs; 1 brood;April–June.
FEEDING Eats wasp and bee grubs, wax, honey, adult
insects, ant pupae, and small mammals and reptiles.
OCCURRENCE
SIMILAR SPECIES Widespread throughout Europe
except in far N Scandinavia, and
broad BUZZARD BLACK KITE Iceland; rare breeder and migrant
head wings held in see p.131
“V” in flight; shorter, in UK. Occupies extensive forest or
see p.136 thicker well-wooded hilly country, arriving
head in April, leaving in September.
stockier BOLD PATTERN Migrants cross Mediterranean and
The underside of most Honey mountain regions on regular routes.
Buzzards is heavily spotted and
shorter longer, Seen in the UK
tail notched tail barred but the pattern varies greatly
and some are much plainer. J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 52–60cm (20 1 ⁄2 –23 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 1.35–1.5m (4 1 ⁄2 –5ft) Weight 600–1,100g (21–39oz)
Social Migrates in flocks Lifespan Up to 25 years Status Secure
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