Скачать или смотреть LARGE COMMON BUZZARD FEEDING (Known as Clamhán in Irish)

The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium-to-large bird of prey and currently the most widespread raptor in the United Kingdom and much of Europe. Often mistaken for an eagle by tourists, it is characterized by its broad, rounded wings, short neck, and fan-shaped tail.
Key Characteristics

Appearance: Typically dark brown but highly variable, ranging from almost pure white to blackish-brown.
Size: Length of 40–58 cm with a wingspan between 109 and 140 cm. Females are roughly 15% heavier than males.
Call: A distinctive, loud, "plaintive" mewing call that sounds similar to a cat's "pee-yow".
Flight Style: Often seen soaring in high circles on thermals, typically holding its wings in a shallow "V" shape.

Behavior and Diet

Diet: An opportunistic generalist, it primarily eats small mammals (especially voles and mice), rabbits, birds, amphibians, and large insects. It frequently scavenges on carrion (roadkill).
Hunting: Most commonly hunts from a perch, such as a fence post or telegraph pole, or by walking through fields to find earthworms.
Breeding: They form monogamous pairs that often mate for life. In spring, males perform a "roller coaster" aerial display to attract mates.
Habitat: Prefers the interface of woodlands and open areas like farmland, moorland, or marshes.

Distribution and Conservation

Range: Found across Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia. While many are year-round residents, those in colder northern regions (like the Steppe Buzzard subspecies) migrate long distances to southern Africa for winter.
Status: Currently listed as Least Concern globally. After severe declines in the mid-20th century due to persecution and pesticides, their numbers have significantly recovered and continue to increase.
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