ANATOMY OF BIRDS
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS
CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS
LIZARD-TAILED BIRD
AMERICAN TOOTHED-BIRDS
THE OSTRICHES
THE RHEAS
EMEUS AND CASSOWARIES
THE TINAMOUS
THE KIWIS
THE PENGUINS
LOONS AND GREBES
ALBATROSSES & PETRELS
STORK-LIKE BIRDS
GOOSE-LIKE BIRDS
FALCON-LIKE BIRDS
FOWL-LIKE BIRDS
CRANE-LIKE BIRDS
PLOVER-LIKE BIRDS
CUCKOO-LIKE BIRDS
THE ROLLER-LIKE BIRDS
SPARROW-LIKE BIRDS
Birds and Birding's Guide to:
Watching THE FALCON-LIKE BIRDS
THE KITES, BUZZARDS, EAGLES, HAWKS, AND ALLIES
Buzzard Species
The Buzzards have usually been placed next the Eagles, with which they have many points in common, but they differ, among other things, in assuming, it is said, the adult plumage after the first moult, whereas it takes several years for the Eagles to attain full plumage.
But despite this lack of a series of immature plumages in the Buteos, there is abundant variation in their coloration, since distinctly light, rufous, and melanistic (black) forms are found in several species, in some instances these differences being so marked as to have resulted in their being regarded as distinct species.
In general the Buzzards feed on mice and other small mammals, snakes, frogs, lizards, large insects, and an occasional bird, usually an injured or sickly one, and some of the American species have the more or less deserved reputation of helping themselves in the poultry yard.
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