please help identify bird of prey

[newcomer]

I have recently noticed(on my route to work in Eastern belgium) these 'eagle looking' birds coming and going from a particular area of small woodland tucked away in a small bunker overseeing open fields, they hover and dive,they're big, saw one grabbing a small rabbit! they have quite alot of colour on their upper wings which leads me to believe they can't be the common buzzard although the same physique, or am I wrong? can common buzzards be known to display quite alot of colour? I think the small woodland might be their nesting place, is rough legged buzzard a poss?is RLB rare or common this time of year or area? i will get pics soon!!! as they like to sit on a tall fence nearby which overlooks the fields!!

[Dogghound]

Unlikely to be a rough leg breeding in Belgium. They tend to breed in upland areas in Russia and Scandinavia. Common buzzards are very variable in colour it sounds much more like a common.

[newcomer]

Thanks for the quick reply dogghound.cheers for info im sure yr right about it being a common but a beutiful bird nonetheless!! there r also other BOP around the same area that hover but r alot smaller,quicker & with 'v' shaped tails, do u know wot they r???

[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by newcomer

there r also other BOP around the same area that hover but r alot smaller,quicker & with 'v' shaped tails, do u know wot they r???

Kestrel .. they are the only ones that hover.

[newcomer]

nice one sheffieldlass!!!

[The Woodman]

I've seen Buzzarsd and Peregrines hover albeit briefly.

[caernerch]

In my opinion most BOPs can be seen to "hover" when they're holding into wind - particularly on the updraught along the edge of a ridge. it's not a true hover like a kes but it can be confusing.
caernerch

[Dogghound]

Red Kites also sometimes appear to hover however I think Kestrel are the only true hoverers they are very well adapted for it. They certainally rely on it more than other BOP and actively do it, even on still days when there is no wind.

[caernerch]

just for interest's sake, the old saxon name for kestrel was "oend focker" literally "wind beater" - an acknowledgement of the bird's unique skill as a true hoverer.
caernerch

[MikeS]

Rough-legged Buzzards also do a genuine hover (i.e. continuous wingbeat), but your bird was probably a Common Buzzard sitting on the wind with a few stabilisation flaps as described by caernerch above. RLBs are a northern breeders which winter in small numbers in Britain (and no doubt Belgium). This has been quite a good winter for RLB in Britain.