Common name: Common Buzzard
Scientific name: Buteo buteo
Family: Accipitridae

Size:
Body length: 45–58 cm
Wingspan: 110–130 cm
Weight: 600–1,200 g

Identification:
A medium-to-large raptor with broad wings and a relatively short, rounded tail. Plumage is highly variable, ranging from dark brown to very pale individuals, sometimes appearing almost white. Typically shows a pale breast band and darker belly. In flight, it has a steady, soaring glide with slightly raised wings and a strong, compact silhouette.

Habitat:
Open countryside, agricultural land, wooded hills, and mountainous areas. Often associated with mixed landscapes that provide both perching and hunting opportunities.

Status in Lebanon:
Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Regularly observed across the country during migration and winter months.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds mainly on small mammals such as rodents, as well as birds, reptiles, and carrion.

Behavior:
Often seen soaring in wide circles or perched on trees and poles. Hunts by scanning from elevated positions or gliding low over fields. Known for its distinctive, high-pitched mewing call. Usually solitary but may gather in numbers during migration.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)