Long-legged Buzzard

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Long-legged Buzzard in the UK

An extreme vagrant with one accepted British record. A bird in its second calendar year was seen at Hillwell, Mainland Shetland, and then on Fair Isle on 1 September 2019. Observers first took it for a pale Common Buzzard and a Honey Buzzard. Later study of the video and photographs showed what it was. It was added to Category A of the British List in June 2022. Records in northern continental Europe are increasing, so more may follow.

Where and when to see a Long-legged Buzzard

With a single one-day record there is no season or site to recommend. The 2019 bird was in the Northern Isles in early autumn and was only identified afterwards. Any future bird is likely to be found the same way: an odd, pale, long-winged buzzard on the east coast or the islands between late summer and autumn, photographed and then worked out. If you see one that does not fit, take as many flight pictures as you can.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Open country (very rare).
Diet: Mammals.
Field note: Pale; long-winged.

How to identify a Long-legged Buzzard

Bigger than a Common Buzzard, with longer wings and a long-legged, eagle-like look when perched. The typical pale form has a creamy head and breast that darkens to a rufous belly, and adults have a plain pale orange tail with no bars. Under the wing, large black wrist patches stand out against white flight feathers with a dark trailing edge. The upperwing shows a pale panel at the base of the primaries. Young birds have fine tail barring. It hovers and soars on raised wings.

Call and song

Silent away from the breeding grounds, so do not expect to hear one in Britain. The call there is a short mew, similar to a Common Buzzard. Heard something you cannot place? Bird Hear identifies UK birds from a 10 second recording, free in your browser.

Confusion species

• Common Buzzard: Common Buzzard is smaller and more compact, and even pale birds usually show a barred tail and a pale band across a darker breast.
• Steppe Buzzard: Steppe Buzzard, the eastern race of Common Buzzard, is often rufous with a reddish tail but is smaller with shorter wings and a more barred tail.
• Rough-legged Buzzard: Rough-legged Buzzard has a white tail with a broad black band at the tip and a darker belly patch on a whiter body.

Related guide UK raptors and owls.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Long-legged Buzzard is a Legendary tier bird, worth +50 points when you log one. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Steppe BuzzardEpic · Open country (very rare race)
• Common BuzzardCommon · Farmland
• Rough-legged BuzzardRare · Coastal grassland (winter)
• Black-winged KiteLegendary · Open country (very rare)
• Lanner FalconLegendary · Open country (very rare)
• Little BustardLegendary · Open country (very rare vagrant)

Long-legged Buzzard: quick answers

Has a Long-legged Buzzard ever been seen in the UK?

Yes, once. A young bird crossed Shetland and Fair Isle on 1 September 2019. It was not identified on the day, and was accepted as the first for Britain in 2022 after its photographs and video were examined.

Is the Long-legged Buzzard rare in the UK?

It is about as rare as a bird can be while still being on the British List: one record. Reports of vagrants in northern continental Europe have grown, though, which is why a second is thought likely.

What habitat does the Long-legged Buzzard live in?

Dry, open country. It breeds from south-east Europe through Turkey to Central Asia, and in North Africa, on steppe, semi-desert, rocky hills and open farmland. It nests on cliffs and crags and hunts small mammals and reptiles over bare ground.

Kit that helps

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