The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a bird of the family Accipitridae, in the order Accipitriformes.
Quick answer
The common buzzard (Buteo buteo), also called the Eurasian buzzard, is a medium-sized hawk found across Europe and much of Asia, and one of the most familiar birds of prey in Britain. It soars on broad wings over farmland and woods, mewing a high 'pee-yow', and hunts voles, rabbits and earthworms. Typical lifespan is about 12 years. It is listed as Least Concern and increasing.
Top questions about the Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard facts at a glance
- Weight 830 g
- Lifespan 12 years
| Scientific name | Buteo buteo |
|---|---|
| Other name | Eurasian buzzard |
| Diet | Small mammals, earthworms, insects, birds and carrion |
| Habitat | Woodland edges, farmland, moorland and grassland |
| Weight | Adults average about 830 g (UK ringing data) |
| Lifespan | Typically 12 years; oldest ringed bird 30 years 5 months |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2021) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Genus | Buteo |
Where it lives
The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is native to Breeds across Europe and western and central Asia; northern and eastern populations winter in Africa and southern Asia. — recorded across Europe, Asia, Africa in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
What is a group of common buzzards called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Common Buzzards is called a kettle. It is also known as a wake.
Baby name
A baby Common Buzzard is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Identification
Buzzards are compact, broad-winged hawks with a short, rounded tail. Plumage varies hugely, from almost white to dark chocolate-brown, but most birds are brown with a paler band across the breast. In flight they often soar in slow circles with wings held in a shallow V.
A flexible diet
Buzzards hunt from perches or by hovering, dropping onto voles, mice, young rabbits, reptiles and birds. They also walk across fields after rain picking up earthworms and beetles, and readily eat carrion such as roadkill.
Migrants and residents
Birds in Scandinavia and much of Russia migrate, wintering in Africa and southern Asia, while those in western and central Europe stay all year. Migrants head south between August and November and return between February and May.
A conservation success
Persecution and pesticides once pushed buzzards out of much of lowland Britain and Europe. With legal protection they have spread back. BirdLife International lists the species as Least Concern (2021), with 2 to 3.5 million mature birds and an increasing trend.
Explore the Common Buzzard
Close relatives
- Red-tailed Hawk Same genus
- Bald Eagle Same family
- Harpy Eagle Same family
- Northern Goshawk Same family
Range & geography
Did you know? Common Buzzard facts
- Plumage ranges from almost white to dark chocolate-brown, so individual buzzards can look very different.
- Jays sometimes imitate the buzzard's mewing call.
Conservation status of the Common Buzzard
The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2021. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Common Buzzard
Is a buzzard a vulture?
Not in Europe. The common buzzard is a hawk in the genus Buteo. In North America 'buzzard' is often used informally for turkey vultures, which causes confusion.
How long do buzzards live?
BTO ringing data give a typical life expectancy of 12 years for a buzzard that reaches breeding age. The oldest ringed bird lived 30 years and 5 months.
What does a buzzard sound like?
A plaintive, mewing 'pee-yow', often given while soaring. Jays sometimes imitate it.
How big is a common buzzard?
Adults in the UK average about 830 g. Females are larger than males.
What is a group of common buzzards called?
A group of Common Buzzards is called a kettle. It is also known as a wake.
What is a baby common buzzard called?
A baby Common Buzzard is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Common Buzzard:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Buteo buteo, most recently assessed in 2021.
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iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Buteo buteo. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
-
GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Buteo buteo. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
-
eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Common Buzzard. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Eurasian Buzzard Buteo buteo. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2021), population estimate and trend.
- BTO BirdFacts: Buzzard. British Trust for Ornithology.
Typical lifespan, oldest ringed bird and UK body weight.
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
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