Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) of Britain
Honey Buzzards are rare birds of prey who breed Britain. They arrive from their wintering grounds in tropical and southern Africa in mid-May and return in September. Pairs make their nests in open woodland and feed their young on wasps and bees.
Honey Buzzards are not true buzzards although they belong to the family of birds which includes hawks, kites and eagles. They spend more time feeding on the ground than any other bird of prey.
Adults are large raptors with greyish-brown upperparts, whitish underparts, broad wings and a long tail.
Honey Buzzards live a solitary lifestyle in open woodland and on the edges of forests.
“The main food both in summer and winter quarters is nests, larvae, pupae and adults of social Hymenoptera, including wasps, bees, bumblebees and hornets”.
“Food is located by following flying insects to the nest and, once located, the bird will start to dig the nest out with its feet. The bird can dig as deep as 40cm, and consumes adult insects, larvae, pupae and parts of the nest itself as it excavates. It also hunts on foot to catch ground insects and small vertebrates”.
“In the spring when the main prey is scarce, honey buzzards will resort to a variety of other food, including other insects, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, nestlings and eggs of birds, worms, fruit and berries” (RSPB – Feeding: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/honey-buzzard/feeding/ ).
Honey Buzzards arrive from their wintering ground in tropical and southern Africa in mid-May. They return to their wintering quarters in Africa between mid-August and September.
The arrival of Honey Buzzards in mid-May coincides with an abundance of “wasp larvae, which is the principal food of nestlings”.
The RSPB estimated 41 pairs breed in southern and eastern England, Wales, northern England and northern Scotland. Their nest sites are kept secret to protect pairs from egg collectors.
The range of Honey Buzzards is between 10 and 40 kilometres, or between 6 and 25 miles. Pairs breed in pine or mixed woodland in lowland areas and the wooded hills of higher ground. They prefer open woodland with open countryside nearby.
A pair make their nest in the topmost branches of a large tree. They either make a new nest or reuse the old nest of a crow and other birds of prey such as a Common Buzzard.
The nest is a large construction of twigs and green leaves with more vegetation added during the breeding season. The female is mostly responsible for building the nest over 10 to 15 days.
“A clutch of two white eggs, heavily marked with deep purple-red blotches are laid...in May. Incubation...takes up to 37 days - 30-35 days per egg...but unlike in most birds of prey there is no aggression between the siblings, and there is usually little competition for food”.
“From 18 days the young are able to feed themselves from food in the nest...The young fledge at 40-44 days and return to the nest for food until about 55 days old. They are independent from 75-100 days. Only one brood a year is raised” (RSPB – Breeding: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/honey-buzzard/breeding/ ).
The European Honey Buzzard is classified as of Least Concern by IUCN.
The Honey Buzzard “is a widespread summer visitor to Europe, which constitutes 75% of its global breeding range. Its European breeding population is large (>110,000 pairs), and was stable between 1970–1990”.
“Although there were declines in countries such as Finland and Sweden during 1990–2000, key populations in Russia, Belarus and France were stable, and the species remained stable overall. Consequently, it is provisionally evaluated as Secure” (Birdlife International - http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/BirdsInEuropeII/BiE2004Sp3334.pdf ).
The Honey Buzzard is an amber-listed species of bird in Britain. The shy and secretive nature of these birds of prey makes them difficult to study.
The RSPB said the number of Honey Buzzards is increasing in Britain possibly as a result of a proliferation of maturing conifer forests. The boost in the population of wasps due to climate change may also be responsible for the rise in their numbers.
A new source of food may be provided by the invasive species of Asian Hornets in Britain. Asian Hornets are “wasps, which can kill with a single sting, pose a threat to Britain's honeybees and may soon have a devastating impact on their populations” (Daily Mail - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8203829/Invasion-Asian-hornets-cause-7-6million-environmental-damage-year-study-finds.html ).
For more information on the birds of the gardens and countryside of Britain and Ireland, please visit
Interesting Articles
BTO – Sad Demise of a Honey Buzzard: http://btoringing.blogspot.com/2013/07/sad-demise-of-pioneering-honey-buzzard.html
BBC - Honey Buzzard takes plane flight to The Gambia: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-15533903
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