An oft misunderstood creature, the common buzzard is a bird of prey that is known by experts more for its amazing strength than for its choice of diet. Usually associated with death and the eating of carrion, buzzards are actually skilled hunters known to attack all sorts of live prey. They’ve gained their reputation as scavengers because they are willing to eat deceased prey, but they will actually eat just about anything they can get their talons on, and are more opportunistic than scavengers. They resemble more their fellow birds of prey like hawks and eagles than other carrion-eaters like vultures. They favor hunting over open land (although they breed in woodlands) and their diet includes pheasant, rabbit, small mammals, medium-sized mammals, snakes, lizards, and even the worms that are found in freshly plowed fields.

The common buzzard has a length between 16 and 23 inches (40 to 58 centimeters) and weighs up to 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms); this classifies it as a medium raptor (bird of prey). The common buzzards range includes most of Europe and parts of Asia, staying in one habitat year round, except in the most extreme of colds; in these cases, the buzzard will migrate to a warmer range during the winter months. Within these ranges, buzzards are not known to form flocks, but instead to mate for life and remain only in a pair. The only exceptions occur when good habitats are found; multiple groups will take the same range, but they will still remain up to 90 feet (30 meters) apart and can therefore not be considered a flock. The common buzzard is currently in no danger of extinction, but is sometimes blamed for low numbers in other species, as are all birds of prey. With its powerful beak and sharp talons, the big bird is a truly amazing animal and an important part of its ecosystem, so please think of it less as an eater of the dead, and more as the majestic hunter that it is.