European honey buzzard

Appearance

The 52–60-centimetre-long honey buzzard is larger and longer winged, with a 135–150-centimetre wingspan, when compared to the smaller common buzzard. It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than the "Buteo" buzzard, usually with two narrow dark bars and a broad dark sub-terminal bar. The sexes can be distinguished on plumage, which is unusual for a large bird of prey. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.

The soaring jizz is quite diagnostic; the wings are held straight with the wing tips horizontal or sometimes slightly pointed down. The head protrudes forwards with a slight kink downwards and sometimes a very angular chest can be seen, similar to a sparrowhawk, although this may not be diagnostic. The angular chest is most pronounced when seen in direct flight with tail narrowed. The call is a clear "peee-lu".

Naming

Despite its English name, this species is more closely related to kites of the genera "Leptodon" and "Chondrohierax" than to true buzzards in "Buteo".

The binomen is due to Linné. It is derived from Ancient Greek "pernes" περνης, a term used by Aristotle for a bird of prey, and Latin "apivorus" "bee-eating", from "apis", "bee" and "-vorus", "-eating". In fact, bees are much less important than wasps in the bird's diet.

Distribution

The European honey buzzard is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa.

Status

The bird is an uncommon breeder in, and a scarce though increasing migrant to, Britain. Its most well-known summer population is in the New Forest but it is also found in the Tyne Valley, Wareham Forest, Swanton Novers Great Wood, the Neath Valleys, the Clumber Park area, near Wykeham Forest, Haldon Forest Park and elsewhere.

Behavior

It is sometimes seen soaring in thermals. When flying in wooded vegetation, honey buzzards usually fly quite low and perch in mid canopy, holding the body relatively horizontal with tail drooping. The birds also hop from branch to branch, each time flapping their wings once, and so emitting a loud clap. The bird often appears restless with much ruffling of the wings and shifting around on its perch. The honey buzzard often inspects possible locations of food from its perch, cocking its head this way and that to get a good look at possible food locations. This behaviour is reminiscent of an inquisitive parrot.

Habitat

It is seen in a wide range of habitats, but generally prefers woodland and exotic plantations.

Reproduction

The honey buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. Breeding males are fiercely territorial.

Food

It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps and hornets, although it will take small mammals, reptiles and birds. It is the only known predator of the Asian giant hornet. It will spend large amounts of time on the forest floor excavating wasp nests. It is equipped with long toes and claws adapted to raking and digging, as well as scale-like feathering on its head, thought to be a defence against the stings of its victims. It is thought that honey buzzards have a chemical deterrent in their feathers that protects them from wasp attack.