Honey buzzard

Although buzzards are relatively common in Great Britain, with numbers on the rise, the same cannot be said of the honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) which, although one of the commonest large raptors to be seen in continental Europe, is a rare visitor north of the English Channel.

One reason for this might be that the honey buzzard, which winters in Africa, does not like to cross wide expanses of water as it migrates. Short stretches such as the Straits of Gibraltar and the Bosphorus present no problem, but the Channel crossing is another matter.

When it breeds in Britain it does so mostly in southern and eastern England and it can also be seen as a passage migrant in late spring and autumn in coastal regions of south-east England.

Appearance

The honey buzzard, at 52 to 60 centimetres, is slightly longer than the common buzzard. It has a wingspan of 135-150 centimetres. The small head, similar in shape to that of a cuckoo, protrudes forwards in flight. It has a long tail and holds its wings flat when soaring.

The male honey buzzard has a grey head and grey-brown upperparts. The underparts are variable as between individuals, being anything from white to chocolate brown, with speckling or barring. Females are darker and browner and are more likely to be barred.

The tail has a pronounced stripe at the tip and one or two other bars higher up. The wings have black tips and trailing edges and several dark bars across the much paler flight feathers.

Behaviour

When seen in flight the honey buzzard is quite distinct from the common buzzard, the former beating its wings in a much more leisurely way. The male honey buzzard has an up-and-down “dance”, with the wings raised high in the manner of a butterfly, when it is displaying to a female or warning other birds off its territory.

The honey buzzard is unusual among birds of prey in that it feeds mostly on the ground. Its main food source is insect larvae, such as those of bees and wasps, which it finds by scratching at the ground with its blunt claws. It is this habit of attacking bee and wasp nests that gave rise to the idea that it fed on honey, hence its name. Honey buzzards will also take small mammals, the nestlings of other bird species, frogs, worms and large insects.

Breeding

The honey buzzard breeds in deciduous or mixed woods in lowland areas and mixed coniferous forests in upland areas. The nest is built high up a large tree. Nest building begins in May, with both partners constructing it from twigs and branches lined with grass and leaves. Old nests built by other species, such as crows, are often used as the base for a new nest.

Two eggs are laid, with both birds incubating them for up to 35 days. The female stays on the nest with the chicks for up to 20 days after hatching, with the male providing food for both the female and the chicks. After that point both parent birds share the hunt for food, with the young being ready to fledge at about 40 days. However, the chicks are not fully independent until at least six weeks later.

Conservation

Britain’s changeable climate has a marked effect on the numbers of bees and wasps in any one season, and this has a knock-on effect on species that depend on them for food, including the honey buzzard. The number of successful breeding pairs in the UK can therefore fluctuate, but the current trend appears to be upwards. The honey buzzard has special protection in the UK, with nest sites being kept secret whenever possible to keep egg collectors at bay.

© John Welford