“ The Common Buzzard frequents the more cultivated plains and woodlands in England, and the very
wildest parts o f Scotland. In the former it is decidedly a bird o f sylvan habits, delighting in the more extensive
chases and parks where there is abundance o f aged timber, o r in the tracts which still bear the name
o f forests—in the latter, frequenting the alpine districts, and breeding on the edges o f the ravines with which
they are so abundantly intersected. In either case, the nest is built of large sticks, with a scanty lining of
wool o r hair, the site an aged tree or some ledge of ro ck ; the eggs, three or four in number, o f a rounded
form, bluish or greenish white, with pale brown blotches and spots or streaks most crowded a t the thicker
end. In its habits it is sluggish and inactive, or rather it appears to be s o ; the flight is heavy, but buoyant,
and when hunting it is performed in low sweeps, during which it surveys the ground and pounces on any
living thing which may attract its attention. I t never attempts to secure its prey by pursuit on the wing.
Its food consists of almost everything—the smaller Mammalia, such as mice or moles, the young o f game or
moorland birds, frogs, toads, &c. It has been often described as watching from an eminence o r decayed
tree, thence sweeping down on the prey when discovered, and for this purpose remaining for hours in one
situation; we have never seen it so employed, and have always considered its long stationary perches as the
result o f repletion, and as a resting-place after the exertion o f hunting and feeding; and we have known the
same station taken up day after day, and hours spent in a motionless doze. On quitting this perch, and
during the season of incubation, the flight is slow and majestic—the bird rising in easy and graceful gyrations,
often to an immense height, and uttering occasionally its shrill and melancholy whistle. At this time
to a spectator beneath, and in particular lights, they appear o f immense size; the motions o f the tail when
directing the circles, may be plainly perceived, as well as the beautiful markings on it and on the wino-s
which are sometimes rendered very distinct by the body being thrown upwards, and the light falling on the
clear and silvery tints o f the base of the feathers. The Buzzard is a fine accompaniment to the landscape,
whether sylvan or wild and rocky. In confinement it becomes very familiar, is easily tamed, and as easily
kept.”
Mr. Thompson states, in his ‘ Natural History of Ireland,’ that the Buzzard “ is generally to be found in
suitable localities. Specimens are procured a t all seasons o f the year in the more extensive and best-wooded
demesnes in Down and Antrim. In such haunts the Buzzard builds in tre e s ; but in the retired and mountainous
parts o f the country, where not a tree is to be found, it is equally a t home, and forms its nest
in the cliffs.” The bird had also come under his notice “ at Rosheen Mountain, near Dunfanao-hy
at Magilligan in Londonderry, a t the headlands above the Giant’s Causeway and those near Carrick-a-rede
in Antrim, in the cliffs at the Knockagh Mountain near Carrickfergus, and other places.”
“ D uring incubation,” says Mr. Maegillivray, “ the male brings food to the female, and sometimes takes
her place on the eggs. The young are a t first covered with whitish down, and, after leaving the nest,
are assisted by tlieir parents until able to shift for themselves. Mr. Hepburn informs me that it hunts
the fields in a wavering direction, often turning aud twisting, about a dozen o r sixteen feet from the
ground, dropping down on the unsuspecting mouse, and seizing the unwary bird perched on the hedge.
So far as I have seen, it does not come near the dwellings o f man in search o f its food. Besides
devouring mice, the Buzzard is o f great service to the farmer in driving off the Ring-Doves from the corn
Here you may see them feeding in flocks, often comprising as many as 500, and sometimes above 1000.
He is accused of killing game, and suffers accordingly; but the gleanings are not left to maintain game
alone, being shared by mice and small birds, and yet the poor Buzzard is shot when endeavouring to fulfil
one of the great ends for which he was created, namely, setting bounds to their increase. When will our
senators see the error of game-laws, and the moral evils they inflict upon the lower orders? No t till then
will the farmer and nurseryman experience the full benefit of our Rapacious birds.”
Independently o f Central Europe, over the whole o f which it is dispersed, it is nowhere more numerous
than in Africa: Captain Loche states that it is found in all parts o f Algeria; Dr. Ruppell saw it everywhere
in the north-eastern p a rts ; Dr. Heuglin mentions that it is occasionally seen in Egypt durin«-
winter; and the Rev. William Scott brought examples from Madeira, whither he states they frequently fly
over from Africa. In India Mr. Jerdon shot the specimen he describes in his work on the birds o f that
country, and saw several others on the Neilgherries, and remarks that it has also been found in Nepaul
and Sikim; but it appears to be a rare inhabitant o f the hilly regions o f India.
Richardson and Swainson state, in the ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana,’ that this bird also inhabits the fur-
countries of America: but the example they have figured must have reference to some other species f for I
have no reason to believe that it is ever found in America, and it is not included in Dr. Baird’s recently
published list of the birds of that country.
The figure is about two-thirds o f the natural size.
C S L