|
|
|
European Honey Buzzard
(Pernis apivorus)
: "Honey Buzzard", "Pern", "Common Pern"
 German name(s): "Wespenbussard"
Size: 52-59 cm; wing span 1.1-1.35 m
|
|
 |
Similar
species |
|
|
 |
Physical description |
|
 Click here for a physical description
European Honey Buzzards are medium-sized raptors.
Their plumage is
is dimorphic, i.e.
males and
females
are slightly different (apart from the fact that the latter are
larger than the former).
Both sexes can also have various morphologies, ranging from pale
to dark.
Male
have a grey head.
The front, when perched, is predominantely off-white, with dark
spots.
The back is all greyish-brown, with a scaly pattern created by
darker tips on the feathers.
Their underwings have a prominent dark trailing edge and only
the tips of the primaries are dark, with a broad area of off-white
to grey separating it from the rest of the wing, which can range
from a dark patch on the carpal joint surrounded by dark spots
on the outer wing and an all-pale inner part to an all-dark
inner wing surrounded by rows of dark spots.
Females
have a brownish-grey head and are on average darker than
males.
The dark trailing edge on their underwings is wider than those of
males and
they also have an extra row of dark spots on the underwings
with much less light-grey areas in between, leading to less
colour contrast.
Both sexes have scaly feathers in the face for protection against
stings of their prey. The irises are yellow, while the strongly
downcurved bill is dark-grey. The legs and feet are yellow, with
black talons.
The morphology of
juveniles
resembles that of
females.
There are 3 different morphs. The darkest resembles most closely
female
morphology. In the others, the body and inner underwing are
rufous or pale-grey.
Up close,
juveniles
are most easily recognized by their yellow cere and dark irises.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See European
Honey Buzzard at Wikipedia  .
|
|
 |
Range, habitat, finding this species |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the European Honey Buzzard is available
HERE
.
European Honey Buzzards are a long-distance migratory species,
which is unusual for raptors.
Their overall breeding range extends from parts of western
Europe via central and eastern Europe into central western
Asia.
Their winter range is all of Africa below the Sahara, except the
Horn of Africa, the deserts of Namibia and most of South Africa
(where they stay only in a coastal strip along the East and South
coast).
During their migration they can potentially be found anywhere in
between breeding areas and winter quarters, except the Sahara and
the central Arabian desert.
In Europe, European Honey Buzzards are summer breeding migrants.
Their breeding range extends from north-western Iberia and
most of France, north of the Alps into central and eastern
Europe, north of the Danube.
There is also a small breeding population in Wales/eastern England.
They are not found on the
western side of the Scandinavian mountain range and the
northern boundary of their breeding range is near the base
of the Kola peninsula. The southern boundary of the breeding
range is roughly a line connecting the northern Alps with the
northern border of Kazakhstan.
During the breeding season they have a preference for forests
with clearings, small wetlands or fields with nearby tall trees.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
J. Pires reports spotting European
Honey Buzzards in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal, in June
2015 and again in July 2018. Another was found at Cabranosa,
Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, in October 2022.
G. Normand found a European
Honey Buzzard near Saint Omer, between Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer,
Hauts-de-France, France, in June 2020.
|
 |
Photos |
|
 |
ADULT |
|
 |
MALE |
|
Distant lateral view of a male European Honey Buzzard;
note the dark patches at the carpal joints
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]
Distant lateral view of a male European Honey Buzzard
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]
Ventral view of a male European Honey Buzzard
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
Ventral view of a light morphology male European Honey Buzzard
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Near Saint Omer, between Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer, Hauts-de-France,
France, June 2020]
 |
FEMALE |
|
Ventral view of a female European Honey Buzzard
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
Two European Honey Buzzards in flight; female at the back,
juvenile? in front
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2015]
 |
IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
|
Lateral view onto the upperparts of a rufous morph juvenile
European Honey Buzzard in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabranosa, Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a rufous morph juvenile European
Honey Buzzard in flight
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Cabranosa, Sagres, Algarve, Portugal, October 2022]
 |
Food, Diet |
|
Despite its scientific name (apivorus = bee-eater), the European
Honey Buzzard (where the "honey" is also a misnomer) actually
specializes more in hornets, wasps and their nests - hence the
German name, which translates into "Wasp Buzzard".
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Call/s
