EMMA & NELSON
COMMON BUZZARD - Buteo buteo
At the Haven we care for two common buzzards called Emma and Nelson. We have been caring for these two birds of prey for many years.
Nelson was a wild bird who was injured. Sadly the vet was unable to save his damaged eye and it had to be removed. Nelson could not be released back into the wild as this severely restricted his ability to hunt. You will often see Nelson at ground level rather than attempting to fly to the higher perches and this is due to his eyesight problem. Emma came to the Haven when her owner, a falconer, retired.
ABOUT THE COMMON BUZZARD
The name 'Dancing Hawk' is associated with buzzards due to their habit of landing in open fields and appearing to dance up and down. This behavior entices worms to the surface as they assume the vibration is rain and the buzzards then eat them.
To attract a mate the male buzzard will perform an aerobatic display known as 'the roller coaster'. He will rise high up in the sky then turn and plummet downwards in a spiraling twisting motion and turn as he falls.
The buzzard is the UK's most common bird of prey and can be seen in the wild on the Isle of Wight. In fact one wild buzzard has sometimes been spotted sitting on top of Emma and Nelson's enclosure.
Common Name
Common Buzzard
Latin Name
Buteo buteo
Conservation status
Least Concern
Habitat
They live in Europe and Asia and can be found in the open countryside and small woodlands
Diet
They mainly prey on mammals and small rodents but will also take amphibians, large insects and young birds. They also feed on carrion
Behavior
Their preferred method of finding prey is 'still hunting' in which they sit on a post or in a tree and look for food. Buzzards will also use wind-hovering to find their prey and are comfortable searching for
beetles and earthworms by walking around on the ground
