Buzzards ??

[Newt]

From the current "bird of prey" thread and several others, I have to wonder about references to Buzzards.

 

In the US, a buzzard is a large bird but strictly a carrion eater. Only dead or very nearly dead animals and they usually gather in a large flock to feast.

 

I have to wonder if we are speaking of the same bird.

 

Here are resting and flight pics of a US style buzzard.

 

 

[chesters1]

the flying pick does look like a buzzard (the usuall trade mark forked wingtips) but the sitting one looks like a vulture of some type our are much pretier

http://www.scottishfalconry.co.uk/buzzard.html

[Umber]

Heres one of ours

They eat small mammals rodents reptiles and are also scavengers. latin name Buteo Buteo.

 

[ 22 March 2002, 10:58 PM: Message edited by: Umber ]

[Newt]

Ours is actually a Turkey Vulture

 

Also known as

Buzzard, carrion crow, John Crow, red-necked buzzard, turkey buzzard.

 

Scientific name is Cathartes aura.

 

Yours is lots prettier. Anybody know a species name?

 

[ 22 March 2002, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Newt ]

[Vagabond]

Newt - our Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is related to your "hawks" such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Rough-legged Hawk (all Buteo spp) - we occasionally get that last one (which we call the Rough-legged Buzzard) as a winter visitor from Scandinavia - it is circum-polar in distribution.

 

That thing you call an"ole turkey buzzard" is one of the New World vultures - related to the Condor - looking forward to getting re-aquainted with your American (feathered) birds again next month and catching a few USA fish.

[Newt]

Vagabond - thanks for that.

 

I have Chris coming in the morning from South Carolina for a day's fishing and Trev (Ziptrev) in May for 6 days and lots of fishing.

 

I have nothing on for April at this point so if you are in the area, give a shout.

 

You know the old saying, "A month without a Brit visiting is like a day without sunshine". At least I think that is the way the saying goes.

[Colin Brett]

And not forgeting the Honey Buzzard [even prettier]!

 

Colin

[chesters1]

probably not in 1776 though