Pernis apivorus
The European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is a distinctive medium-sized raptor, not a true buzzard (Buteo) despite its name, known for its highly specialized diet. It typically measures 52-60 cm in length with a wingspan of 135-150 cm and weighs between 600-1300g, with females being slightly larger. Its plumage is remarkably variable, ranging from dark brown to pale sandy, often with barred undersides and a unique 'pigeon-like' small head. Key identification marks include distinct dark car...
Found primarily in deciduous or mixed woodlands, often preferring areas near clearings, rivers, or agricultural land, typically at low to mid-elevations.
Feeds predominantly on the larvae, pupae, and adults of social wasps and bees, which it excavates from nests. Supplements its diet with other insects, small vertebrates, fruits, and berries, especially during migration.
European Honey Buzzards are diurnal raptors that typically roost in tall trees. Their foraging strategy is highly specialized: they patiently observe the flight paths of social wasps and bees to locate their nests, which they then excavate from the ground or trees using their powerful talons and ...
The European Honey Buzzard boasts a vast breeding range across the Palearctic, stretching from Western Europe (including the UK and Scandinavia) eastward across Russia to central Siberia. It breeds south to the Mediterranean basin, Black Sea region, and parts of Central Asia. This species is a lo...
Least Concern
- Despite its name, the European Honey Buzzard is not a true 'buzzard' (genus Buteo), but belongs to a distinct genus, Pernis, specialized for its unique diet. - It possesses remarkable resistance to wasp and bee stings, with specialized scale-like feathers protecting its face. - Honey buzzards c...