Steppe Buzzard
Buteo buteo vulpinus
The migratory race of Buzzard from Scandinavia eastward to the Far East (not Japan) winter southwards in Africa, India and the Far East. A soaring migrant not able to cross large stretches of ocean. Not as variable as nominate buteo with grey-brown upperparts and underparts often warm brown - tail often quite orange and the species is sometimes considered to be the same as the North American Red-tailed Hawk.
A bird of open wooded areas and farmland avoiding thick forests and open plains or tundra without trees. Feeds mainly on small and medium-sized mammals but will take any sort of animal food and carrion. Very territorial in breeding season with both birds soaring and mewing to each other and at their neighbours.
The common buzzard over most of the Old World.
Length 540 mm Closed wing 370 mm Weight 850 gms A Bird On! Sketch by Chris Mead
Copyright © 1996 by Jacobi Jayne & Company and Chris Mead