Buzzards

[woofas]

I don't know how unusual it is, but we saw a group of seven buzzards circling above our garden on Saturday afternoon. By the way what is the collective noun for buzzards?

[ron1863]

Hi, and a warm welcome to WAB. I think it depends on where you live, as some areas of the U.K. have high numbers of Buzzadrs while others have none. I regularly see lots of them as we live in a hilly area with lots of woodland.
I have no idea what a collection of Buzzards is called but other Wabbers may.

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by woofas

By the way what is the collective noun for buzzards?

I've heard this referred to as a 'wake' ... but not sure if the origin is linked to our common buzzard (Buteo buteo).

In the USA for instance, the term 'buzzard' is commonly applied to any number of vulture species, such as the Turkey Vulture ... so might be more apt in that context perhaps?

Other options might be a 'kettle' (no firm idea why) or just a 'flock'.

[woofas]

We live in East Warwickshire near the M1/M6 junction, so farmland but not many hills. In the last 12 years we have watched the buzzard population in the area grow from zero in about five years. Normally we see two maybe three at a time - this was the first time we have seen so many at once.

[praxiskipsis]

I've never seen as many as seven, near my mums house there are about 4 that circle around up near the fields. Speaking of Buzzards though, walking my dogs today I came face to face with one, no more than 2 feet from sat on the fence post. It was a real hold your breathe moment and completley made my day, i've been telling everyone since. I've never seen a wild Bird of Prey so close. She was beautiful alright!

[Ida]

Hello

I've been out walking in Kent (near Sevenoaks) this afternoon, and saw a group of six buzzards soaring above pastures at the edge of woodland. I've never seen them in a group like this either, and was wondering why they were together. Do they remain in family groups, or is there another reason?

Any info much appreciated.

[eeyore]

They flock up in the winter - down here there is a feild where we regularly see up to 20 together in the winter months.

the other thing that will bring bunches together is a good food source like a dead deer - one sees it first and starts circling and oithers see this and home in and so on.

and the collective noun for buteo buteo is indeed (according to google) a wake as VF said - though that said Ive never heard that in common usage

[Bishopswood]

We had a group of 20+ circling over the village a couple of weeks back, just at the limit of visibility and on a warm sunny day. This was unusual though as they are usually seen in groups of between 2 and 5.

[Ida]

Thanks, Eeyore. I had no idea that buzzards flocked together during winter.

I was excited about spotting 6 of these birds together, but to see a group of 20+ must be quite something. I'll try not to be too jealous of you and Bishopswood.