Birds and wildlife
Honey Buzzard
Pernis apivorusGroup: Kites, hawks and eaglesUK Conservation status:Not assessed
How to identify
The Honey Buzzard is a large bird of prey that is similar to the Buzzard. It has broad wings and a long tail. The plumage is very variable across all ages - typical adults are greyish-brown on their upperparts and whitish on underparts. The nest sites of British breeding birds are usually kept secret to protect them from egg collectors. They are also listed as a Schedule 1 species on The Wildlife and Countryside Act offering them additional protection. Numbers are increasing, perhaps as a result of upland conifer forest maturing. It is a summer visitor to its breeding sites and spends the winter in Africa.Key features to look out for
- Large size (Common Buzzard)
- Variable plumage but small protruding head and long tail often distinctive.
- Wings downcurved when gliding, held flat when soaring. Loose, slowish wingbeats.
Where and when to see them
Migration
Although quite common on the continent, Honey Buzzards remain scarce in the UK. However, they are widespread and easily overlooked, especially once nesting in their favoured mature woodlands. Despite their name, they do not eat honey but in fact raid bee and wasp nests in search of the grubs inside. These birds spend the winter in tropical Africa and often form huge flocks on autumn migration, especially prior to making sea-crossings across the Mediterranean.
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec