Where is the honey buzzard in the UK?

Honey buzzards nest in southern and eastern England, Wales, northern England and northern Scotland. There are wardened watchpoints in Devon and Norfolk. You can see honey buzzards from the middle of May to mid August.

Where are honey buzzards found?

It is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. Being a long distance migrant, the Honey Buzzard relies on magnetic orientation to find its way south, as well as a visual memory of remarkable geograpical features along the way (Mountain ranges, rivers etc…).

Are honey buzzards rare?

Honey Buzzards are rare and secretive birds in the UK, but are widely distributed and can be watched at several watchpoints around the country. It is a widespread species in Europe, and vast numbers can be encountered at some migration hotspots in southern Europe and the Middle East. Size: Average 56cm, wingspan 142cm.

Are there buzzards in Northern Ireland?

Status in Northern Ireland: Widespread year-round resident. A medium-sized raptor, adult plumage is similar between the sexes and can be highly variable, ranging from very dark to very pale.

Are Buzzards rare in Ireland?

Recent range expansion has seen this species becoming widespread and very common throughout Ireland. Populations now reaching far into Western counties. Year round resident.

What is the largest bird of prey in Ireland?

Golden Eagle

What is the biggest bird of prey in the UK?

white tailed eagle
The white tailed eagle is the largest UK bird of prey. It went extinct in the UK during the early 20th century due to illegal killing.

How can you tell a buzzard?

The buzzard is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. When gliding and soaring it will often hold its wings in a shallow ‘V’ and the tail is fanned. Buzzards are variable in colour from all dark brown to much paler variations, all have dark wingtips and a finely barred tail.

Where do buzzards nest in Ireland?

Buzzards prefer pasture interspersed with hedgerows and woodlands. Open hillsides with suitable nest sites are also occupied. They usually nest in trees but also sometimes on small cliff ledges, where two to five eggs are laid from late March-May.

Is it illegal to shoot a buzzard?

Dr Andrew Kelly, CEO of the ISPCA, noted that wild birds such as Buzzards are protected under the Wildlife Act 1976, making it illegal to take them from the wild or injure or kill them. “They feed on carrion and rodents such as rats so they pose no threat to farm animals or pets.

Where does the honey buzzard live in the UK?

Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. The honey buzzard is a large bird of prey, similar in appearance to a common buzzard. It is only a summer resident in the UK, wintering in tropical Africa.

What kind of flight does a honey buzzard have?

It has a distinctive rapid, stiff, rather laboured wing action and soars on characteristically raised wings with a fan-shaped tail, but can adopt a flatter-winged profile when gliding. Displaying birds also show a very striking fluid, slow-motion wing action and perform steep dives and tumbles.

What kind of eye does a honey buzzard have?

Seen close, adults have a yellow eye combined with a dark cere and bill, juveniles a dark eye with a yellow cere and a yellow base to the bill. Birds are silent except in the breeding season, when they may give a fluty peee-lu.

What’s the difference between a common buzzard and a European Buzzard?

The flight is much ‘looser’ than that of Common Buzzard, with fluid, flexible wing-beats. European Honey Buzzard soars on flat wings and glides with the wings slightly drooped. The plumages of European Honey Buzzard are many and complex.