& Laaksonen, T. (2016). Dark morph vulpinus have a head and underside that is mostly uniform dark, from dark brown to blackish-brown to almost pure black. [82][83] Hunting in relatively open areas has been found to increase hunting success whereas more complete shrub cover lowered success. [3] The common buzzard is an opportunistic predator that can take a wide variety of prey, but it feeds mostly on small mammals, especially rodents such as voles. The feet are feathered. Nearly every study from the continent makes reference to the importance, in particular, of the two most numerous and widely distributed European voles: the 28.5 g (1.01 oz) common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the somewhat more northerly ranging 40 g (1.4 oz) field vole (Microtus agrestis). Carneiro, M., Colaço, B., Brandão, R., Ferreira, C., Santos, N., Soeiro, V., & Lavín, S. (2014). Kenward, R. E., Hall, D. G., Walls, S. S., & Hodder, K. H. (2001). Other variations of their vocal performances include a cat-like mew, uttered repeatedly on the wing or when perched, especially in display; a repeated mah has been recorded as uttered by pairs answering each other, further chuckles and croaks have also been recorded at nests. (2003). It typically hunts from a perch. Kruckenhauser, L., Haring, E., Pinsker, W., Riesing, M. J., Winkler, H., Wink, M., & Gamauf, A. [78][79] It seems clear that voles are the most significant prey type for European buzzards. The bright blue feathers of a jay are unmistakeable. Some 16 subspecies have been described in the past and up to 11 are often considered valid, although some authorities accept as few as seven. The European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is thought in engage in mimicry of more powerful raptors, in particular, juveniles may mimic the plumage of the more powerful common buzzard. In dark morph vulpinus the broad black trailing edges and colour of body make whitish areas of inner wing stand out further with an often bolder and blacker carpal patch than in other morphs. Furthermore, it has been described a "sluggish and not very bold" bird of prey. [201][77] Juvenile buzzards are subordinate to adults during most encounters and tend to avoid direct confrontations and actively defended territories until they are of appropriate age (usually at least 2 years of age). As of the 1990s, other countries such as Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Belarus and the Ukraine all numbered pairs well into five figures, while Germany had an estimated 140,000 pairs and European Russian may have held 500,000 pairs. Schmitt, M. B., Baur, S., & Von Maltitz, F. (1980). Manosa, S., Mateo, R., Freixa, C., & Guitart, R. (2003). They can appear fairly compact in overall appearance but may also appear large relative to other commoner raptorial birds such as kestrels and sparrowhawks. Åberg, B., & Hungate, F. P. [77], The common buzzard is a generalist predator which hunts a wide variety of prey given the opportunity. Adult forest buzzards compared to the typical adult steppe buzzard (rufous morph) are also similar, but the forest typically has a whiter underside, sometimes mostly plain white, usually with heavy blotches or drop-shaped marks on abdomen, with barring on thighs, more narrow tear-shaped on chest and more spotted on leading edges of underwing, usually lacking marking on the white U across chest (which is otherwise similar but usually broader than that of vulpinus). [114] The most widely found mole in the buzzard's northern range is the 98 g (3.5 oz) European mole (Talpa europaea) and this is one of the more important non-rodent prey items for the species. Nest height in trees is commonly 3 to 25 m (9.8 to 82.0 ft), usually by main trunk or main crutch of the tree. [91][181][182], Home ranges of common buzzards are generally 0.5 to 2 km2 (0.19 to 0.77 sq mi). [110] While rabbits are non-native, albeit long-established, in the British Isles, in their native area of the Iberian peninsula, rabbits are similarly significant to the buzzard's diet. The shorter top layer of wing feathers is bright blue with black bars. [78] Especially in winter quarters such as southern Africa, common buzzards are often attracted to swarming locusts and other orthopterans.