Buzzard takes Blackbird

[Cutty Dyer]

Hello from Dartmoor…

A couple of days ago, whilst having a morning cuppa and gazing out the window I witnessed a young Buzzard diving hard into one of the hedge rows bordering the property. At the time I was surprised at this behaviour as I’d not witnessed this before. Then this morning I see the same Buzzard on the ground in front of the hedge with a male Blackbird in its talons. After a couple of minutes the Buzzard took flight, carrying its prey up into a near by tree.

Can someone tell me if it is common for Buzzards to prey on songbirds?

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by Cutty Dyer

Hello from Dartmoor…

A couple of days ago, whilst having a morning cuppa and gazing out the window I witnessed a young Buzzard diving hard into one of the hedge rows bordering the property. At the time I was surprised at this behaviour as I’d not witnessed this before. Then this morning I see the same Buzzard on the ground in front of the hedge with a male Blackbird in its talons. After a couple of minutes the Buzzard took flight, carrying its prey up into a near by tree.

Can someone tell me if it is common for Buzzards to prey on songbirds?

Welcome to wab cutty dyer,
Buzzards will take just about anything they can eat, thats why there now the commonest bird of prey in the uk.
They eat worms which ive seen them doing, as well as birds, rabbits and also carrion.
regards mark.........

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by dunlin

Welcome to wab cutty dyer,
Buzzards will take just about anything they can eat, thats why there now the commonest bird of prey in the uk.
They eat worms which ive seen them doing, as well as birds, rabbits and also carrion.
regards mark.........

Thanks for taking the time to reply dunlin.

What an incredibly adaptable raptor.

I’ve seen the local buzzards take rabbits, carrion etc… but the hedge diving took me by surprise. Maybe he’s been watching one of the sparrow hawks who regularly patrol the hedges.

[Dave66]

Hi Cutty

I've seen this before, There are a lot of buzzards in Argyll. I even saw one take a jackdaw once. Come february you can see them in the fields eating worms even though there are rabbits in the same field.

Dave.

[yanto1410]

Hi, I live opposite a cow/sheep meadow with a seasonal pond frequented by everything from sparrows to Canada Geese and a lot of seagulls. We have a family of 5 buzzards in the area. I don't normally see them hunt, but quite often find the remains of rabbits and one day had the privelege of watching them while feeding on a rabbit. I was surprised one day when my eye was caught by a puff of white feathers on the field opposite about 5 mtrs from the hedge. One of the adults had taken a seagull and was soon joined by the other adult and then later, the 3 youngsters, so a blackbird wouldn't surprise me.

[Cutty Dyer]

Could be an interesting thread in its own right – “What surprising prey have you seen a Buzzard take?”.

My free range hens have so far been left unmolested; fortunately, the local Buzzards seem to be weary of hunting on the land bordering the house.

[bodshi]

Hi, just struck me that that kind of hunting/feeding behaviour sounds like the female sparrowhawk that visits our garden - are you sure it was a buzzard? (Sorry if I'm underestimating your knowledge, don't mean to be rude!)

[Cutty Dyer]

Originally Posted by bodshi

Hi, just struck me that that kind of hunting/feeding behaviour sounds like the female sparrowhawk that visits our garden - are you sure it was a buzzard? (Sorry if I'm underestimating your knowledge, don't mean to be rude!)

No offence taken but definitely a Buzzard (not sure anyone could confuse the two). Our visiting sparrow Hawks do hunt the same hedge rows by they fly through the small gaps in the sides of the hedges. The Buzzard’s approach is far more brutal, he dives bombs into the top of the hedge displacing branches and birds with his bulk.