Encyclopedia > Honey Buzzard

  Article Content

Honey Buzzard

Honey Buzzard
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Accipitriformes
Family:Accipitridae
Genus:Pernis[?]
Species:apivorus
Binomial name
Pernis apivorus
The Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus is a bird of prey in the order Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers.

Despite its name, this species is not related to Buteo buzzards, and is closer to the kites.

It is a summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps, although it will take other small prey.

It breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the Spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping.

It is larger and longer winged than Common Buzzard Buteo buteo. It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a longer tail, which has fewer bars than that buzzard.

Unusually for a large bird of prey, the sexes can be distinguished. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. She is slightly larger and darker than the male.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Brazil

... heritage. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation in the Americas. About 80% of all Brazilians belong to the Roman Catholic Church; most others adhere to various ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 40.1 ms