- Life expectancy
- Global status
Identification
Broad wings, a stocky body and a relatively short, rounded tail give the typical buzzard silhouette. Pale adults often show a dark belly band; juveniles still lack the red tail that gives the species its name.
Colours
Adult · Pale
Pale underparts with a dark belly band. The adult tail is rusty red.
The colour morphs shown are based on the western subspecies calurus. They grade into one another through numerous intermediates; Harlan’s Hawk is a separate subspecies and is not shown here as a dark morph.
Behaviour
Pairs can stay together for many years. In courtship they perform chases and steep flight manoeuvres. The territory, and especially the nest, is defended even against much larger raptors.
Breeding & rearing
Both partners build or repair the large stick nest, usually high in a tree. Rock ledges and structures are also used. After first leaving the nest, the young still depend on their parents for food.
