Common Buzzard

Common Name: Common Buzzard

Latin Name: Buteo buteo

Family: Accipitridae

The buzzard is the most likely medium sized raptor to be encountered in the Dales, where it can often be seen soaring in thermals on broad rounded wings. If wind conditions are right and there is sufficient uplift along a suitable ridge or hillside, it is not uncommon to see buzzards hovering in similar manner to kestrels. The plumage of buzzards can be very variable, particularly on the underside, ranging from birds that appear to be almost pure white to a very dark brown. Buzzards primarily feed on rabbits but will also take a variety of small mammals, birds and carrion.

Buzzards were formerly quite a scarce species in the Dales with only ten known territorial pairs in the National Park in 1993. The number of known pairs has increased quite dramatically in recent years with buzzard sightings possible, virtually anywhere in the Dales, at anytime of year. At some favoured locations where breeding success is high, several family groups can be observed soaring over the successful nesting territories in late summer. This population increase has occurred across much of northern England especially in Cumbria, where there are now more breeding pairs of buzzards than there are kestrels.

Websites:

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (opens in new window)