Birds and wildlife
Rough-legged Buzzard
Buteo lagopusGroup: Kites, hawks and eaglesUK Conservation status:Not assessed
How to identify
A bird of prey very similar to the much more common Buzzard, though only a small number spend winter in the UK. It has the habit of 'hanging' in the air while looking for prey, hovering much more often than Common Buzzards. Key features include the black-tipped white tail, paler appearance than most Common Buzzards, longer wings and paler head. Beware of pale Common Buzzards, they're a hugely variable species. A close view will reveal the heavily feathered legs that give this bird its name.Key features to look out for
- Medium / large (slightly larger and longer-winged than Common Buzzard)
- Brown above, white tail with dark band at tip.
- Pale below often with dark belly, wing tips and carpal patches (‘elbows’)
- Often hovers while hunting
Where and when to see them
One other truly scarce winter raptor to keep an eye out for is the Rough-legged Buzzard. This rather enigmatic bird does not breed in the UK but arrives here from Scandinavia in varying numbers most winters. Given the birds’ origins, the majority of sightings come from the east coast from Scotland down to Kent though in ‘bumper’ years, following a particularly good breeding season, they can turn up just about anywhere.
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec