Steppe buzzard

The Steppe buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus) is a bird of prey, very widespread in the Old World. It lives in mostly of most of Central Asia, and other Turanian regions. It breeds as far as the northern Caucacus, northern Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, much of Russia to Altai and south-central Siberia, Tien Shan in China and western Mongolia. B. b. vulpinus is a long-distance migrant. It winters largely in much of eastern and southern Africa. Less frequently and often very discontinuously, steppe buzzards winter in the southern peninsulas of Europe, Arabia and southwestern India in addition to some parts of southeastern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In the open country favoured on the wintering grounds, steppe buzzards are often seen perched on roadside telephone poles.

Within Turkistan it is the National bird of East Turkestan.

Steppe Buzzard Media

• 

  A typical intermediate brown buzzard of the nominate race (B. b. buteo) in the Netherlands

• 

  Buteo buteo rothschildi – MHNT

• 

  The steppe race of the common buzzard (B. b. vulpinus) is usually distinguished from the nominate race (B. b. buteo) by being more rufous in hue (and more polymorphic)

• 

  Buteo buteo vulpinus – MHNT

• 

  A dark individual from Europe

• 

  A pale individual in Europe

• 

  Although they can look compact when perched, buzzards may appear large and long-winged in flight.

• 

  Juvenile forest buzzards of Africa are extremely easy to mistake for juvenile common buzzards of the steppe race that come to winter in Africa.

• 

  Common buzzard often inhabit the interface of woods and open areas.

• 

  Buzzards spend much of their day perched.