Buteo buteo is a widespread breeder across most of Europe, which accounts for less than half of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is large (>710,000 pairs), and increased between 1970-1990. Although there were declines in a few countries during 1990-2000, key populations in Russia, Germany and France were stable, and the species was stable or increased across most of the rest of Europe.

Variable, but always with some degree of tree cover. Prefers edges of woods and areas where cultivation, meadows, pastures or moors alternate with coniferous or deciduous woods, or least clumps of trees. In winter open fields, steppe or wetlands. Mainly flat terrain or gentle slopes at low or moderate altitudes.

Eggs laid from march to may. Nests in large trees, fairly close to edge of wood. Nest is bulky platform of sticks and twigs, lined with greenery. Built in fork or on branch near trunk. 2-4 eggs, incubation 35-38 days by female, but most prey caught by male. Chicks have white or brownish grey first and second down. This species is sexual mature at 3 years old.

Adaptable, diet according to local and seasonal availability. Essentially a hunter of small mammals, particularly rodents, with voles main prey over much of range, also mice, rats hamsters shrews, young rabbits and hares. Sometimes dominant prey by number are invertebrates, crickets, locusts and earthworms. Reptiles locally important, including lizards, slow-worms and snakes. Birds can be important when mammals scarce. Hunts in clearings and open areas near edges or woods, almost always captures prey on ground. Spends long periods perched scanning or loafing, also spots prey from gliding or soaring flight. Walks on ground when hunting invertebrates.

This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 10,000,000 km2. It has a large global population estimated to be at least 4,000,000 individuals (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001). Global population trends have not been quantified, but there is evidence of a population increase (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001), and so the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Migratory in Scandinavia (wintering in S Sweden), and in most of former USSR; partially migratory in C Europe (increasingly so with latitude); sedentary in Britain, S Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Japan and in island populations. Winters in Africa, Israel and Arabia; easternmost breeding populations winter in India, Indochina and China; part of C European population move S and SW in autumn, with some migrants reaching NW or even W Africa. Race vulpinus completely migratory, travelling up to 13,000 km, to winter in S Europe and SW Asia, but mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in S; crosses over to Africa mainly via Bab al Mandab in autumn, and returns by Suez in spring; 465,827 birds recorded at Elat (Israel) in spring 1986. Race menestriesi apparently non-migratory. Length of migrants' absence from breeding grounds increases with latitude.

article number 1 Title
Sexing, ageing and moult of Buzzards Buteo buteo in a southern European area
Author(s): Iñigo Zuberogoitia1, Jose Antonio Martínez, Jabi Zabala, Jose Enrique Martínez, Inaki Castillo, Ainara Azkona and Sonia Hidalgo
Abstract: In order to obtain a reliable method for sexing and ageing Buzzards Buteo buteo breeding in southern Europe, 115 birds from a wildlife rehabilitation centre and 43 trapped birds were measured, sexed a..[more]..
Source: Ringing & Migration (2005) 22, 153-158
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article number 2 Title
Numerical response of common buzzards and predation rate of main and alternative prey under fluctuating food conditions.
Author(s): Reif, V., Jungell, S., Korpimäki, E., Tornberg, R. & Mykrä, S. 2004
Abstract: We studied the numerical response of a population of the common buzzard Buteo buteo to the fluctuations of its main prey (voles) and alternative prey (forest grouse) in western Finland between 1979 an..[more]..
Source: Ann. Zool. Fennici 41: 599-607
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article number 3 Title
The Complete Sequence of the Mitochondrial Genome of Buteo buteo (Aves, Accipitrid ) Indicates an Early Split in the Phylogeny of Raptors
Author(s): Elisabeth Haring, Luise Kruckenhauser, Anita Gamauf, Martin J. Riesing, and Wilhelm Pinsker
Abstract: The complete sequence of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Buteo buteo was determined. Its gene content and nucleotide composition are typical for avian genomes. Due to expanded noncoding sequences, Bu..[more]..
Source: Mol. Biol. Evol.,Oct 2001;18:1892-1904.
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article number 4 Title
Breeding density and brood size of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo in relation to snow cover in spring
Author(s): Selas V.
Abstract: In a 500 km2 study area situated 100-400 m above sea level in southern Norway, breeding density and offspring production of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo was studied in relation to snow depth in spring d..[more]..
Source: ARDEA 89 (3): 471-479.
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article number 5 Title
Diet of Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) in southern Norway determined from prey remains and video recordings.
Author(s): V. Selås, R. Tveiten & O.M. Aanonsen
Abstract: We examined the diet of six breeding Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) pairs in southern Norway, by analysing pellets and prey remains collected around and in nests, and by video recording prey delivery at..[more]..
Source: Ornis Fennica 84:97-104. 2007
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