Buzzard (eye contact)
The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium to large bird of prey, whose range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia. It is typically between 51-57 cm in length with a 110 to 130 cm (48-60 inch) wingspan, making it a medium-sized raptor. There are around 40,000 breeding pairs in Britain. It is usually resident all year except in the coldest parts of its range, and in the case of one subspecies.
It breeds in woodland, usually on the fringes, but favours hunting over open land. It eats mainly small mammals, and will come to carrion. A great opportunist, it adapts well to a varied diet of pheasant, rabbit, other small mammals, snakes and lizards and can often be seen walking over recently ploughed fields looking for worms and insects.
They are fiercely territorial, and, though rare, fights do break out if one strays on another pair’s territory, but dominant displays of aggression will normally see off the interloper. Pairs mate for life. To attract a mate (or impress his existing mate) the male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of Spring. This spectacular display is known as ‘the roller coaster’. He will rise high up in the sky, to turn and plummet downward, in a spiral, twisting and turning as he comes down. To then rise immediately upward to repeat the exercise.
This broad-winged raptor has a wide variety of plumages, and in Europe can be confused with the similar Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) and the only distantly related Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus), which mimics the Common Buzzard’s plumage for a degree of protection from Goshawks. The plumage can vary in Britain from almost pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown, with a pale ‘necklace’ of feathers.
The call is a plaintive peea-ay, similar to a cat’s meow.
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jdmphotography
Virginia N. Fred
How do you get them to keep their attention youor way, wonderful work, jd…gina
jdmphotography replied
I think it’s all down to a spot of luck on the day Gina’ thank you for the lovey comments ! ....... (-;
IndraniGhose
Wow! Another freezing look!
Great shot!
jdmphotography replied
Thank you kindly Indrani ! ....... (-;
parmi
Wow, awesome mate! That is one hell of a stare. Curious.. how long do you wait to get a shot like this?
jdmphotography replied
Thank you Andrew a bit of luck on this one really not long at all I think he liked me ! ........
Sean Jansen
Wow what detail on this. Awesome capture and love the eyes in this.
jdmphotography replied
Hay Sean thank you very much my friend ! .......
Jan Fijolek
Beautiful portrait!
jdmphotography replied
Thank you for your kind comments Jan ! .......
mlynnd
Awesome image. Instant favorite …. Lynn
jdmphotography replied
Hi Lynn thank you for the kind comment and fav ! ....... (-;
velveteagle
A wonderful stare JD.. This looks really great..
Chuck..
jdmphotography replied
Thank you Chuck all my best to you my friend ! ........
joak
some shot ..they have brilliant faces
jdmphotography replied
I agree joak they certainly do’ thank you for the kind comments ! .....
RickF
Awesome Shot!
jdmphotography replied
Thank you kindly Rick ! .........
Ginny York
Wonderful capture Jon! Fantastic detail and DOF! I have seen their “mating dive” on TV before. It’s amazing to watch. Must be wild in the real world. This is a definated fav for me. Well done!
jdmphotography replied
Really lovely comments and review thank you for your fav and info too’ Ginny – They really are amazing birds ! ..... (-;
jdmphotography
lorilee
Magnificent!!!!!
jdmphotography replied
Why thank you Lorilee you are very kind ! ........ (-;
Martina Fagan
A smashing capture very lovely:))
jdmphotography replied
Thank you Tina for such kind words ! ........ (-;
Steven Agius
Excellent !
jdmphotography replied
Hi Steven big thanks my friend ! ..........
Jay Lethbridge
Stunning my friend. Great work as always. Just beautiful
jdmphotography replied
Wonderful comments Jay thank you ! ..........
Robert Elliott
superb!!!
jdmphotography replied
Hi Rob thank you my dear friend ! .......
Steve Sass
fantastic shot mate! Well done
jdmphotography replied
Hi Steven all my very best to you’ thank you kindly ! ....
Terri~Lynn Bealle
WOW, awesome shot!!!
jdmphotography replied
You can not get much better comments than that Terri thank you indeed ! ....... (-;
David Clarke
Superb shot, John! They are soaring in pairs and threes – presumably family groups – over us at the moment, but I could never dream of getting so close.
jdmphotography replied
Thank you very much David for the interesting info and kind words ! .......
Marion Cullen
Fabulous portrait shot of this magnificant bird. Wonderful, engaging eye contact and sharp as a tack!
jdmphotography replied
Wow some awesome comments made there Marion thank you !! ........
helmutk
.Lovely shot !
jdmphotography replied
Thank you helmutk so appreciated my friend ! .......
jdmphotography
Dave & Trena P...
simply amazing jon!!! what a great shot!
jdmphotography replied
Thank you guys for your wonderful comments ! .......
Cheryl Dunning
wow..amazing shot
jdmphotography replied
Thank you again Cheryl a Wow is one the best comments you can get thanks ! ......... (-;
KMorral
Fantastic capttre- he is not looking happy with you!
jdmphotography replied
Thank you Karren for your kind comments on the Buzzard (eye contact) ...... (-;
Lucindawind
wonderful !
jdmphotography replied
Hay Lu thank you kindly ” ....... (-;
Scott d'Almeida
outstanding
jdmphotography replied
Thank you Scott all my best to you my friend ! ........
Tenee Attoh
Absolutely fantastic capture
jdmphotography replied
Thank you Tenee for your kind words ! .........
dawndavies
fabulous image, dawn
jdmphotography replied
Hi Dawn’ thank you for your kind comments ! ........ (-;
Noelene Davies
Brilliant capture of a beautiful bird.
jdmphotography replied
Thank you for your wonderful kind comments again Noelene ! .......
lilian marshall
What a great portrait of a magnificent bird .Love the colours and the eyes are spellbinding . I bet it could stare you out no problem .How is the job going ???
jdmphotography replied
I have a deep passion for the buzzard’ a awesome bird of pray’ thank you for your kind comments’ the new job is brilliant ! Thanks for asking lillian …..... (-:
Dyle Warren
Fascinating tones and capture…wonderful shot!
Madonna007photo
Great portrait.
The colors are perfect !!!
citrineblue
Those eyes, look into my eyes not around my eyes, ha ha. A lovely bird and a most beautiful image
Gail Bridger
Beautiful capture, Jon!! Love those eyes!!
imagic
My good he looks angry, a great capture razorsharp, perfect light, perfect composition, it a FAV.
Greetings
Jens.