The common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium to large bird of prey found across most of Europe and extending into the Palearctic, including northwestern China, western Siberia, and north-western Mongolia. While many are year-round residents, those from colder regions and eastern areas typically migrate south for the winter, reaching places like South Africa.
This opportunistic predator primarily feeds on small mammals, especially rodents such as voles, and usually hunts from a perch. Like other accipitrid birds, it builds nests in trees and is a devoted parent to a small brood of young. The common buzzard is the most widespread diurnal raptor in Europe, with its global population estimated in the millions.
