Do buzzards have white breasts?

[scarymonster]

Hi all,

I have been watching what I think is a buzzard in the tree at the bottom of a meadow (out my kitchen window). I saw a couple yesterday on the ground for quite a while (it was blowing a gale yesterday and perhaps they were also seeking some shelter lower down out of the full on wind).

The one I am watching now can been seen from 600 feet or more (it's a big meadow with a mature tree line/wood down one side) as it's breast is so light. It has a brown head and neck which ends at a uniform point before the white. I am watching it through a pair of 15 x 70 bino's on a tripod and have a great view.

I am just wondering if this is a buzzard and perhaps I have just not seen them from this angle before as I can't say I have noticed this light almost white colour on them before.

[aeshna5]

Buzzards can be very variable in plumage + some individuals do show varying amounts of white. I've found Buzzards even more variable in France than i have here in the UK.

It does sound like a Buzzard.

[scarymonster]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Buzzards can be very variable in plumage + some individuals do show varying amounts of white. I've found Buzzards even more variable in France than i have here in the UK.

It does sound like a Buzzard.

Thanks aeshna, it's a beautiful specimen. Most of the ones I see are brown to light brown.

It looks almost like what I imagine an eagle would look like. Although I don't think we have those in Herefordshire.

[artdemole]

Sparrow hawk has a light color on breast also.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by artdemole

Sparrow hawk has a light color on breast also.

Even the larger female is much smaller than a Buzzard + the OP suggested it was Buzzard like but was confused by the white. I don't think it's anything but a Buzzard showing some white!

[rossy]

id be going buzzard also , rossy.

[scarymonster]

We do have sparrow hawks around here but the bird I was looking at is a big old bird in comparison. I managed to take a couple of blurry photo's using my diigital camera through the bino's which will at least show the brightness of the colour.

If I can figure out the Gallery and also meet the size requirements (GRRRR!) I'll post them up later.

[solus]

Put 'em in the Image Library then you can post them straight in to your post here - the Gallery pics have to be approved by a Mod first and if they are unidentified, not properly titled or just not good enough they'll be rejected. "Blurry" isn't likely to make the Gallery but is fine for the Images bit!

[werdnal]

We have a pair of buzzards nest here every year, in a small fir plantation about 250 yards from our house. Although the parents are the normal dark buzzard colour, they always have atleast one very light coloured youngster. Last year's was particularly light, almost like a very large barn owl.

They vary in colour a lot. I have seeen very dark almost black ones too.

[Dave66]

I had a look through my photo's of buzzards and found this one. I have seen them with more white than this. Buzzards vary greatly both in size and colour.

Cheers
Dave.