Is this a Buzzard?

[JoeM]

Hi,

Have just joined up. I saw this Bird of Prey from my front window yesterday and was wondering if its a Buzzard? It didn't look particularly big so possibly a Juvenile?



Hope the image works!

Joe

[Mick*]

It looks like a young Buzzard to me.

I've never seen a one from that angle, I've seen plenty close up but they were always on either fence posts or telegraph posts and they were always facing the road.

[John]

First of all let me give you a warm welcome to WAB

Spot on. It is a Buzzard but it looks more like an adult to me. Juveniles should appear a little bit more streaky on the plumage and this looks quite uniform in appearance.

When close up Buzzards don't appear as large as you would expect. With their wings open it gives them a larger appearance but they are only just half as big again as a Kestrel in body length.

John

[JoeM]

Thanks both for the replies - I would imagine it was about 40 - 50 feet away hence the blurry image, and oddly when I looked from the downstairs window it seemed much bigger, though I took the photos from upstairs!
Earlier in the year I regularly heard a Buzzard calling nearby, they're not that rare even in urban settings. This morning, at around 6.30 I heard a screeching that sounded like a Peregrine going by the sound samples on the RSPB site, though I couldn't see anything. Could that possibly have been the Buzzard too?

Thanks
Joe

[John]

The sounds are very different. A Buzzard mews a bit like a cat, whereas a Peregrine gives a long-drawn, shrill, whining ‘kee-arrk or a cacking call.

John

[Fieldfare95]

Cracking picture!