The common buzzard is a medium-sized bird of prey found across most of Europe and east into Asia, and probably the most common daytime raptor in Europe. It mostly hunts voles and other rodents from a perch.
Quick answers
What is it?Bird
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Daytime
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inEurope, Asia, Africa
HabitatFarmland, Forest, Grassland
ColoursBrown, White
SizeMedium
Legs2
Covered inFeathers
Lives inpairs
Lives for12–20 years
Can fly
Lays eggs
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Most of Europe and east to western Siberia, Mongolia and China; northern and eastern birds winter as far south as South Africa.
- What it eats
- Mostly small mammals, especially voles; an opportunist that takes many other prey.
Did you know
Probably the most common daytime bird of prey in Europe.
Up to 30 buzzards have been seen foraging on the ground in a single large field.
Often confused with
- Hawk
In the US, buzzards of this group are called hawks.
Compare side by side
On these lists
Sources
Last reviewed
Play
Could you have guessed it?
A photo, a few hints, one guess. Same 438 animals.
