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Buzzards
Honey Buzzard
European Honey Buzzard
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
A raptor commonly seen in September with flocks that can tally hundreds of individuals usually migrating from early in the afternoon. The juveniles vary in their plumage with most having brownish bodies, some with white streaks and a few are mostly white with vertical brown streaks. All juveniles have a yellow base at the bill and grey/brown eyes. Adults have yellow eyes with distinctive white chests and a grey head on males whilst brownish on females.
Diet
It mostly feeds on insects such as bees, wasps, grasshoppers and loves eating honey.
Longevity record
29 years (Found dead in Germany, C 52627)
Kuċċarda
Pernis apivorus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Fairly common
Usually seen in
April - May, September
Occasionally seen in
March, June, August, November
Click on the image to open slideshow
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Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
51 - 60
119 - 145
515 - 1050
Crested Honey Buzzard
Crested Honey Buzzard
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
The first and only record for Malta was on the 24th September 2024 over Buskett woodlands. An adult female of the orientalis ssp.
Crested honey buzzards are residents to the Eastern Palearctic and migrate for breeding to Siberia and Japan during the summer. They then spend the winter in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
They differentiate from the European honey buzzard mainly by the lack of carpal patches, by the sixth primary feather, by a lookind=g shorter and broader tail and by broader wings. Thus, they look heavier in flight and bulkier resembling almost an eagle-like appearance. Although very similar in wingspan to a Honey buzzard, it looks larger in flight.
Males are easier to identify as along with the features mentioned, they have a black tail with a white bar halfway and have a darker iris. The iris in females is yellow. Juveniles tend to have narrower wings similar to the European counterparts and the main different factors are the 6th primary feather and the flight action.
Both species show considerable individual plumage variation, which seriously complicates the matter. The crest, giving orientalis its English name, is actually hardly developed or even absent in the subspecies orientalis, and therefore cannot be considered a reliable field mark (Forsman 1994, Shirihai 1994, Laine 1996, Beaman & Madge 1998, Forsman 1999, Ferguson-Lees & Christie 2001).
Diet
It mostly feeds on insects such as bees, wasps, grasshoppers and loves eating honey.
Longevity record
---
Kuċċarda Orjentali
Pernis ptilorhynchus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Vagrant
Usually seen in
---
Occasionally seen in
September
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Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
55 - 60
120 - 150
600 - 1150
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Common Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
A medium sized raptor with a variation in plumage. There are usually three different plumages in Common Buzzards which can be divided as light, intermediate and dark and again these can on juveniles, sub-adults (sometimes there are two cycles) and adults. The most popular individuals seen locally have a white patch just under the neck. Common Buzzards have a small rounded head with a rather short neck and short tail.
There are usually three different plumages in Common Buzzards which can be divided as light, intermediate and dark and again
Diet
Common Buzzards mostly feed on small prey and carrion. They can even feed on earthworms and other large insects when other prey is in short supply.
Longevity record
28 years (found dead in Denmark, 313963)
Usually seen in
September - October
Occasionally seen in
February - May, November - December
Click on the image to open slideshow
common buzzard
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Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
48 - 59
110 - 138
650 - 1200
Steppe Buzzard
Steppe Buzzard
Maltese name/s
Scientific binomen
Order
Family
Sighting occurrence
Info*
The Steppe Buzzard is a sub-species of the Common Buzzard which is very difficult to identify in juveniles. Adults can be identified more easily from the uniformly fox-red rufous (as in image) or by the rather darker black individuals as these do not correspond to the Common Buzzard nominate. Still, however the similar plumages of the Long-legged Buzzard should be eliminated first, in order for the individual to be a certain Steppe Buzzard.
Steppe Buzzards have more white remiges than Common Buzzards, and have a finer distinct barring. Primaries 4-5 are unbarred, while the upperparts of adult birds are a pale greyish/brown shade. The underbody is more finely barred than the Common Buzzard.
The Steppe Buzzard is slightly smaller than Common Buzzard, averaging 45-50 cm in length. It is also longer-winged and longer-tailed. The tail is also paler than the nominate form and often quite rufous. The upperwings have pale primary patches, and the primary flight feathers are also paler when viewed from below. Adults have a black trailing edge to the wings.
There are two color morphs; the rufous form and a dark grey form. Both morphs often have plain underparts, lacking the breast band frequently seen in the nominate Common Buzzard.
Diet
Common Buzzards mostly feed on small prey and carrion. They can even feed on earthworms and other large insects when other prey is in short supply.
Longevity record
12 years (average lifespan)
Kuċċarda Prima Ħamranija
Buteo buteo vulpinus
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Very rare
Usually seen in
May
Occasionally seen in
September - October
Click on the image to open slideshow
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Length (cm):
Wingspan (cm):
Weight (g):
40 - 48
100 - 125
550 - 900
*Some information was sourced from ''BirdID Nord University''.
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