Buzzard Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging (and everything in between)
The Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium to large bird of prey which is commonly seen all across the UK. Once on the brink of extinction in Great Britain, the Buzzard population has increased their numbers fourfold since 1970.
These relatively large raptors have broad, rounded wings, a short tail, yellow beak (with a black tip) and yellow legs. Buzzards are generally brown with a white underside but there are a number of variations in their plumage.
In flight, the Buzzard holds its wings in a raised “V” shape especially when soaring. They also display a dark tail band and dark trailing edges to their wings.
These fascinating raptors are a delight to see soaring through the air and in this article we’ll be finding out all about their life cycle from egg laying to fledging and much more besides. Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
How Long Does A Buzzard Live?
In the wild, Buzzards typically live for around 12 years assuming they make it past their third birthday. Young Buzzards have a 63% chance of reaching the age of 3, after that, adult birds have a 90% chance of surviving to reach 12 years.
Captive Buzzards can survive for far longer with some individuals reaching the age of more than 30 years. There was also one individual that was 30 years and 5 months when it died in the wild according to ring data.
How Fast Can A Buzzard Fly?
Buzzards can reach speeds of around 28 miles per hour (45 km/h) when flying. They can also soar at heights of up to 3,280 feet (1000 metres).
Many Buzzards are resident birds and remain in their breeding grounds all year, but those in the far north of their range migrate with some travelling as far as Africa for the winter.
Are Buzzards Aggressive?
Buzzards are not particularly aggressive towards animals or humans, in fact, they are likely to be shy and avoid any contact. That is unless they perceive these creatures as straying too close to their nesting site.
Like many bird species, the Buzzard can become seriously territorial when defending their nest and young. If anyone was to approach their nest between April and July, they might well get attacked or dive bombed and verbally abused with loud calls.
Apart from during the breeding season however, Buzzards are not particularly aggressive unless they are defending their territory or hunting.
What Is A Buzzard’s Habitat?
The Buzzards preferred habitat is on the edges of woodlands that border some open ground. Most Buzzards are found at the edge of forests, small woods or shelterbelts with grassland or farmland close by.
They need trees that they can perch on as they hunt for prey but are not particularly fussy for any particular type of tree. Buzzards can be found in coniferous and deciduous woods.
The range of the Buzzard covers a large part of the world including; The UK, Scandinavia, Russia, Turkey, Iran, China and Mongolia.
How Long Does It Take For A Buzzard To Build A Nest?
It can take anywhere between 10 to 14 days for a Buzzard’s nest to be complete. Both the male and female take part in the nest building process which is made from sticks, branches and the occasional leaves and pine needles.
The nest is built in tall trees or sometimes on the edges of cliffs. Nest building usually begins in March or April and is dependent on the climate and the availability of nest making materials.
Bonded pairs sometimes reuse the same nest for several years and reinforce it by adding fresh materials each year. If the same nest is reused, the building time is significantly reduced.
Eggs
Once the nest has been completed to the satisfaction of the female, we move on to the next stage in the life cycle of the Buzzard, the egg laying phase.
When Do Buzzards Lay Eggs?
The breeding season for Buzzards generally runs from March to July. Most Buzzards typically lay their eggs in April once the weather has warmed up a bit and there are more food sources available.
Although in milder years, Buzzards have been known to lay eggs as early as January.
How Many Eggs Does A Buzzard Lay?
The average clutch size for Buzzards is 2 to 3 eggs, but can range between 2 to 6 eggs. The eggs are usually laid in 2 to 3 day intervals and if any eggs are lost by predators or simply falling out of the nest, Buzzards don’t lay any more eggs that season and remain unproductive.
What Do Buzzard Eggs Look Like?
Buzzard eggs are fairly round in shape, mainly white in colour with reddish-brown markings. Each egg is around 55 x 44 mm in size and weighs around 60 grams with 8% of that weight being the weight of the shell.
How Long Do Buzzard Eggs Take To Hatch?
The eggs hatch after an incubation period of around 33 to 35 days. The female is the primary incubator, although the male helps out occasionally.
Chicks
After the eggs hatch, we move on to the next stage in the life cycle of the Buzzard, the chicks.
How Many Chicks Does A Buzzard Have?
Buzzards generally raise all of their eggs to the hatchling stage. So from a clutch of 3 eggs we can expect 3 chicks to hatch. The female stays at the nesting site brooding the young with the male bringing all of the prey to feed the female and her young. Hatching can take place over a 3 to 7 day period.
The number of chicks that survive to the fledgling stage however, is dependent on the availability of food and climatic conditions. The stronger chicks will often steal food from their weaker siblings which often results in the weaker chicks starving to death in the nest.
When Do Buzzard Chicks Open Their Eyes?
When they first hatch, Buzzard chicks are blind, naked and completely helpless. They rely on their parents for food, warmth and protection. Their eyes open within a day or two of hatching and their eyesight improves rapidly.
They grow downy feathers from around day 7 and their first proper feathers appear when the chicks are around 12 to 15 days old.
When Do Buzzard Chicks Fledge?
Most Buzzard chicks fledge somewhere between 43 to 54 days. But in some cases, fledging occurs as late as 62 days. Once they leave the nest, the young fledglings usually stay close by unless they are part of a migratory clan. In which case they will be moving south soon afterwards.
They typically achieve full independence from their parents at around 6 to 8 weeks after fledging. During this time they are learning how to find and hunt for food and avoid any dangers.
SEE ALSO: Red Kite Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements
Frequently Asked Questions
The average lifespan of a Buzzard is around 12 years in the wild. However, there have been individual birds that have survived far longer. One Buzzard was more than 30 years old according to ring data.
Buzzard eggs are white in colour with reddish-brown speckles. They are roundish in shape and are around 55 x 44 mm in size.
Buzzards can reach speeds of up to 28 miles per hour (45 km/h) when in horizontal flight. They can also soar to a height of around 3,280 feet (1000 metres).
