Eastern Buzzard

Buteo japonicus

Family: Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 51–57 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds in eastern Siberia through Sakhalin to Hokkaido, winters south to continental southeast Asia. Some endemic subspecies are resident in parts of Japan.

Identification

Stocky with round body, round wings, and proportionally short tail in flight. Adults darker than juveniles; juvenile shows pale underparts with brown breast band and dark carpal patches, while adult has darker, more uniform plumage, the wings and tail marked with diffuse, dark subterminal banding. Very difficult to distinguish from Common Buzzard; birds with paler underparts, more strongly contrasting carpal patch, and less well-defined black trailing edge are thought to be this species. Crested Honey Buzzard shows a small protruding head and longer tail; Changeable Hawk-Eagle is larger with a prominent crest; Jerdon's Baza has a long crest and strongly barred underparts.

Habitat

Open country.