Buzzard

Find out more about buzzards, featured in the BBC Wales series Not In My Nature.

The buzzard is the most common bird of prey in the UK. It has broad, rounded wings with a short neck and tail. Buzzards vary in colour from dark brown all over, to some having pale heads and breasts. All buzzards have dark wingtips.

Buzzards can be seen soaring in the skies all year round, and are found primarily in remote areas across Wales, with populations in Scotland, the Lake District and southwest England.

Carrion forms a major part of their diet, however they enjoy varied feeding habits ranging from small rodents, birds, reptiles, insects and worms.

Like hawks and eagles, buzzards are very territorial with location and the size of territories dependend on availability of nest sites. Feeding grounds are occasionally shared with other birds, however perches are always defended.

Buzzards usually build their nests in a tree, rocky crag or cliff and the female buzzard lays two to four white eggs with red and brown markings at three-day intervals around mid April.

The incubation period for the eggs is 33 to 35 days and following birth the female broods for the young for the first two weeks whilst the male provides food. The young fledge when they are 50-55 days old, and stay with their parents for six to eight weeks after fledging.

Breeding success depends a great deal on available food supply. Buzzards that reach breeding age have an average life span of around eight years. The oldest wild buzzard known was 25 years four months old.