Long-legged buzzard

The long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) is a bird of prey in the genus Buteo. It is similar in appearance to the rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), but it is larger and more robust.

Long-legged buzzard

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Buteo
Species:
B. rufinus
Binomial name
Buteo rufinus
(Cretzschmar, 1829)
Range of B. rufinus      Breeding      Resident      Passage      Non-breeding
Synonyms
  • Buteo ferox

Description
A wintering bird near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India
Illustration by Keulemans, 1874

This is one of the largest species of Buteo. Length can range from 50 to 66 cm (20 to 26 in) and wingspan from 115 to 160 cm (45 to 63 in). Females, at an average mass of 1.3 kg (2.9 lb), are larger than males, at an average of 1.1 kg (2.4 lb).[2][3] There are many different colour forms, but usually long-leggeds have a clear orange tint to the plumage, red or orange tail, pale head and largely white underwings. There is usually a distinctive black carpal patch and dark trailing edge to the wing. The rump and "trousers" are often dark or deep rufous. Plumage varies from ghostly pale individuals to very dark ones. Some plumages are almost similar to those of the steppe buzzard, the eastern subspecies of the common buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus), but long-legged buzzards have longer wings and are more like rough-legged buzzards or even a small Aquila eagle.[2][3]

Distribution and habitat

It inhabits dry open plains of northern Africa, southeastern Europe, west and central Asia east to China, and across central India. Recent sightings indicate that there is a small population in the Apulian region of south-eastern Italy. Open, uncultivated areas, with high bushes, trees, cliffs or hillocks are favoured as nesting areas. Younger birds disperse north of breeding grounds and there are records from Northern Europe. The breeding population in Greece is around 60 pairs.[4]

The African Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis has recently colonised Europe due to the climate in southern Europe becoming more suitable for this species. It is expected that the Iberian Peninsula will provide favourable breeding habitat for the African Long-legged Buzzard and facilitate its northward expansion through Europe.[5]

Reforestation in the Judean Mountains in Israel and the West Bank is displacing populations of the long-legged buzzard, and the species is moving into the Judean Foothills and competing with the short-toed snake eagle there.[6][7]

Feeding

It feeds mostly on small rodents, although it will also take lizards, snakes, small birds and large insects.[4]

Subspecies
Buteo rufinus cirtensis - MHNT

There are two subspecies recognised:[8]

The North African subspecies has recently been recorded breeding in southern Spain.[9]

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References
  1. BirdLife International (2013). "Buteo rufinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. "Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus". European Raptors. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  3. Stevenson; Fanshawe (2001). Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. Elsevier Science. ISBN 978-0856610790.
  4. Snow, D.W.; Perrins, C.M. (1998). The Birds of the Western Palearctic Concise Edition Volume 1 Non -Passerines. Oxford University Press. pp. 359–360. ISBN 0 19 850187 0.
  5. Chamorro, D.; Olivero, J.; Real, R.; Muñoz, A.R. (2017). "Environmental factors determining the establishment of the African Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis in Western Europe". Ibis. 159 (2): 331–342. doi:10.1111/ibi.12451.
  6. American Friends of Tel Aviv University (3 August 2011). "Raptor Usurpers in Neighboring Habitats Reshape the Conventional Wisdom". Science Daily. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  7. Friedemann, G.; Leshem, Y.; Kerem, L.; Bar-Massada, A.; Izhaki, I. (2017). "Nest-site characteristics, breeding success and competitive interactions between two recently sympatric apex predators". Ibis. 159 (4): 812–827. doi:10.1111/ibi.12498.
  8. "Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1829)". Avibase. Denis Lepage. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  9. Elorriaga, Javier; Munoz, Antonio-Roman (2010). "First breeding record of North African Long-legged Buzzard in continental Europe". 103 (7): 399–401. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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