Dawn Balmer

Medium-sized raptor, has a wide diversity of prey: principally small mammals but also birds, reptiles, amphibians, larger insects, and earthworms. Nominate buteo: W Palearctic and Madeira; insularum: Canary Islands; rothschildi: Azores; arrigonii: Corsica and Sardinia; vulpinus: N Palearctic; menetriesi: S Crimea and Caucasus to N Iran. Inhabits varied landscapes like forest clearings and fringes, woodlands, cultivated landscapes with groves or tall isolated trees. Population is increasing and the status is Least Concern. Resident or short-distance migrant, only vulpinus long-distance migrant.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		1760000-2460000,2070000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Common Buzzard

Birds of S Norway, Sweden and partly Finland move NE - SW, most found in Denmark, low Countries and France, crossing the sea at the narrowest point in S Sweden (Strandberg et al. 2009); also C and SE Europe; fewer in S and SW Europe, few in NW and W Africa. Birds of C Norway move mainly NNW - SSE, most found in S Sweden. From Finland and N Sweden alledged vulpinus move NW - SE, to E Europe, Black Sea area and Near East; also Saudi Arabia and E Africa to South Africa. British Isles birds stay in the country, from UK one recovery in Ireland, France and Germany. From the Low Countries most recoveries inside the country, also France and N Spain. Birds from C and E Europe move mainly NE - SW, most found in the Low Countries, E France and Switzerland, also in C and S France, few in Spain, N Italy, the Balkan and Greece. From E Europe also few recoveries in Near East.

Recoveries by Condition for Common Buzzard

Until 1960 86% of the recoveries were dead birds, including 43% shot birds. From 1961 to 1990 87% concerned dead birds, including 11% shot birds. From 1991, 56% concerned dead birds, and only about 1% was shot.
Most buzzards were shot in Denmark, Belgium and SE France. Also many shot birds in E Netherlands, W, C and S France, Czechia, N Italy, Greece and Georgia. Less shot on the British Isles, S Fennoscandia, Spain, Portugal, the Balkan, Near East and East Europe.

Annual Movements for Common Buzzard

From Dec - Feb birds are highly concentrated in Denmark, the Low countries and C Europe, also many birds in France and the UK, fewer in Spain, Italy, S Fennoscandia, SW Europe and few in Near East, NW, W and SE Africa. By Mar most birds have left Africa and the Balkan, small increase in S Finland and E Europe. In Apr - May further increase in S Fennoscandia and E Europe, less birds in S Europe and France. In Jun - Jul few birds in SE Europe and Near East. In Aug - Sep small increase in SE Europe and Near East. In Oct most birds left C and N Fennoscandia, more birds in France and S Europe and first in W and SE Africa. In Nov fewer birds in Finland and E Europe, small increase in NW Africa.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Common Buzzard

C Norway breeders are found in S Sweden (Sep - Feb); from S Norway, Sweden and Finland most are found in Denmark, the Low Countries and France (Sep - Mar, most Dec - Jan), also C and SW Europe and Italy (most Dec - Jan) and few from NW and W Africa (Oct - Apr). From Finland also recoveries in the Balkan, Greece, Black Sea area and Near East (Aug - Mar), also Saudi Arabia (Oct, May) and E Africa (Oct - Apr). From UK breeders one is found in Germany (Jan), France (Sep) and Ireland (Oct). Breeders of the Low Countries are found in N France (Sep - Apr) and NW Germany (Aug - Apr). Breeders of C and E Europe are most found in W Europe (Sep - Apr, most Dec - Jan), also in the Balkan, Greece, Italy and Spain (most Nov - Feb). From E Europe also recoveries in Near East (Jan - May) and Burundi (Feb).

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
Strandberg, R., Alerstam, T., Hake, M., Kjellén, N.2009 . Short-distance migration of the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo recorded by satellite tracking. Ibis 151: 200–206

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