";s:4:"text";s:2866:" The feeding grounds are often shared with other birds, though hunting perches are defended. The Common buzzard has very good hearing, and can hear a mouse moving in the grass. Common Buzzard. Common Buzzards feed mainly on Rabbits but will take just about any small mammal, reptile and often carrion (the carcass of a dead animal). The results varied from year to year, so the range of findings across the years is shown. The buzzard is quite large with broad, rounded wings, and a short neck and tail. Roost sites were searched fortnightly for pellets, yielding 409 pellets containing 1,107 prey items in 2013/14, and 355 pellets with 993 prey items in 2014/15. The Common buzzard is a carnivore. A member of the genus Buteo, it is a member of the family Accipitridae. The common buzzard is now living up to its name. The rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus) looks much like the common buzzard and has a similar diet. A small number of these birds travel from Scandinavia to spend the winter in the UK, usually along the eastern coast. Breeding and survival Clutch size: 2-3 eggs Incubation: 34 days Fledging: 44-52 days Number of broods: 1 Age at first breeding: 3 years Typical lifespan: 12 years. Until quite recently breeding birds were to be found mainly in the north and east of country, north of a line from Sligo to Wexford. Audio. Buzzards are more likely to feed on carrion. Their plaintive mewing call could be mistaken for a cat. Now they are widespread. Diet. Buzzard diet in two winters (October-February) was estimated from pellets collected at 23 roosts sites in 2013/14 and 21 roosts in 2014/15 (19 in both years). Many readers will disagree with the authors’ views on these issues but they are well articulated and certainly worth reading. It should also be provided with water.
The diet and breeding density of 19 pairs of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo¸ were studied in relation to indices of lagomorph and vole abundance during June July 1993 in a range of habitats in southern Scotland.Lagomorphs, voles and birds formed over 70% of the food items analysed from prey remains and pellets collected at nest sites.