Long-legged Buzzard - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Rajiv Lather
Location: Rajasthan, India

Buteo rufinus

Identification

60-65cm. Plumage pattern very variable. Orangey hue to plumage. Red or orange tail, creamy-buff head and largely white underwings.

Similar Species

Immature birds are virtually indistinguishable from Common Buzzard. In the Asian part of its range, Upland Buzzard needs to be considered.

Distribution

Photo by A. Meir
Photographed at Eilat, Israel

Breeds in Europe, Middle East, northern Africa, and Asia to India and Mongolia; winters to Africa south of Sahara. In Europe found in Turkey, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognized:

• B.f. ruffinus -- this is the northern subspecies
• B.f. cirtensis -- northern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula.

Habitat

Open, uncultivated areas, with high bushes, trees, cliffs or hillocks.

Behaviour

Diet

Diet includes small rodents, although it will also take lizards, snakes, small birds and large insects.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Buteo rufinus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

1. Wikipedia
2. Collins Bird Guide 5th Edition
3. Paper describing identification features of Long-legged vs Upland Buzzards

External Links

Search for photos of Long-legged Buzzard in the gallery

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages