Buzzards and vultures are often confused with one another, but they are actually two distinct groups of birds. While they may look similar at first glance, buzzards and vultures have several key differences when it comes to their appearance, behavior, habitat, and taxonomic classification. Understanding the distinctions between these two types of scavenging birds can help with proper identification and appreciation of their unique traits and roles within ecosystems.

Appearance

There are distinct physical differences between buzzards and vultures when looking at size, proportions, plumage, head features, and feet:

Size and Proportions

Buzzards tend to have a smaller, stockier build compared to vultures. Buzzards measure 18-25 inches in length with a wingspan around 40-55 inches.
Vultures are generally larger birds, with a length of 25-37 inches and a wingspan ranging from 67-79 inches across. Vultures appear more elongated and lanky.
When in flight, buzzards have a broader, rounded wing shape compared to vultures.
Vultures have longer, narrower wings meant for soaring at high altitudes.

Plumage

Buzzards have variably colored plumage depending on species, showing black, white, gray, reddish-brown, or golden-brown colors. Some buzzard species feature bold white patches on the wings when in flight.
Vultures are more uniformly black or very dark brown, with minimal white markings. The king vulture has striking bright colors on the head and neck.
Buzzards tend to have paler, more varied plumage from one species to another. Vultures consistently show darker plumage across different species.

Head Features

Buzzards have a fully feathered head, often with a white throat.
Vultures have a small featherless red or pinkish head with grayish skin.
The eyes, bill, and orbital skin of vultures can vary in color from pink to orange to yellow depending on species.
Buzzards tend to have darker eyes and bills overall.

Feet

Buzzards have sturdy feet with long talons used for grabbing and killing prey.
Vultures have weaker feet and talons since they do not kill prey, but use their feet mainly for perching and walking.

So in summary, buzzards tend to be smaller in size, more compact in proportions, variable in plumage colors, fully feathered on the head, and equipped with strong feet and talons. Vultures are larger, elongated birds with uniformly dark plumage, bare heads, and weaker feet adapted for a scavenging lifestyle.

Behavior

The feeding and social behaviors of buzzards and vultures also show some distinct differences:

Feeding

Buzzards are active hunters and prey on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. They use their talons and hooked bill to kill prey items.
Vultures are passive scavengers, feeding exclusively on carrion or dead animals. They do not kill prey but rely on their keen senses to find carcasses.
Buzzards are aggressive at kill sites and will drive off vultures or other buzzards when claiming their prey.
Vultures patiently wait their turn when feeding communally on carcasses. Dominant species may displace smaller ones.
Vultures have extremely acidic stomach acid to help digest carrion and kill dangerous pathogens that may be present in rotting meat. Buzzards have a typical avian digestive system.

Social Behavior

Buzzards are usually solitary or seen in pairs, but may form small flocks around plentiful food sources.
Vultures are more social and gather in large flocks or groups called committees. They roost communally as well.
Buzzards are territorial and defend their nesting areas from intruders.
Vultures nest on cliffs or trees in loosely colonially breeding groups with some tolerance for nesting in close proximity to others.

So in terms of behavior, buzzards are more aggressive hunters feeding on live prey, while vultures are passive scavengers that congregate around carcasses in large numbers. Buzzards are solitary and territorial compared to the more social nature of vultures.

Habitat

Another difference between buzzards and vultures lies in where they live:

Climate Zone

Buzzards have a very wide distribution and occupy diverse habitats in temperate to tropical climates around the world.
Vultures are predominantly found in warmer tropical or subtropical habitats, with just a few species adapted to temperate regions.

Landscape

Buzzards utilize various habitats including forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, and human-altered environments. They are habitat generalists.
Vultures mainly inhabit open areas like grasslands, shrublands, savannahs, and deserts which provide better aerial visibility for spotting carcasses.
Some vulture species live in forested areas if open roosting and nesting sites are available nearby.

Range

Buzzards have an extensive global range through Eurasia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas. Different buzzard species occupy suitable habitat throughout these regions.
Vultures are limited mainly to the warmer parts of the Americas, Africa, and Eurasia. Just a handful of vulture species occur in temperate regions.

So in general, buzzards occupy diverse habitats across a much wider geographic range compared to vultures which concentrate in the tropics and subtropics within open environments.

Taxonomy and Classification

Buzzards and vultures are classified into different taxonomic groups of birds based on their ancestry and relationships:

Family

Buzzards belong to the family Accipitridae, which includes the order Accipitriformes encompassing all diurnal birds of prey apart from the falcon family.
Vultures are in the family Cathartidae, belonging to the order Cathartiformes which contains the New World vultures.
Old World vultures are not closely related, belonging to the family Accipitridae with buzzards. Taxonomically, Old World vultures are more similar to buzzards than New World vultures.

Genus

Well known buzzard genera include Buteo, Parabuteo, Geranoaetus and Hieraaetus.
Familiar vulture genera are Cathartes, Coragyps, Vultur and Aegypius.

Species Examples

Familiar North American buzzard species include the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus).
Well known North American vulture species include the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and black vulture (Coragyps atratus).

So taxonomy separates buzzards and vultures into distinct bird families and genera based on their ancestry, evolutionary relationships, and unique adaptations. This classification differentiates buzzards as Accipitrid raptors from vultures in the Cathartid family.

Identification Tips

When trying to distinguish a buzzard from a vulture, focus on the following key identification traits:

Overall Size and Shape

The stocky, compact profile of a buzzard differs from the hulking, elongated shape of most vultures. Buzzards appear more slender and smaller-headed than the bulky vultures.

Plumage Variation

Note the paler plumage showing white, brown and gray tones on buzzards. Vultures are almost uniformly blackish except for some white wing markings. The bare head and neck of vultures is often reddish.

Flight Style

Buzzards have graceful, stable wing beats interspersed with glides and dives. Vultures soar for prolonged periods on flat, upswept wings with little active flapping.

Feeding Behavior

Watch for buzzards actively hunting live prey versus vultures congregating to feed passively on carrion. Buzzards boldly chase interlopers from their food but vultures will tolerate crowding.

Habitat

The broad habitat use of buzzards differs from vultures which concentrate in warm, open regions near roosting cliffs or large trees.

Focusing on these types of distinguishing features makes it easier to confidently separate buzzards from vultures in the field during birdwatching outings. With practice, identification by sight or silhouette becomes much simpler.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Buzzards and Vultures?

The main differences between buzzards and vultures are:

Appearance: Buzzards have stockier builds, more varied plumage, fully feathered heads, and larger taloned feet compared to vultures.
Behavior: Buzzards actively hunt live prey while vultures passively scavenge carrion. Buzzards are more solitary and territorial versus the social vultures.
Habitat: Buzzards occupy diverse habitats globally while vultures are concentrated in warm regions with open landscapes.
Taxonomy: Buzzards are in the family Accipitridae while New World vultures are Cathartidae. Old World vultures belong to the Accipitridae.

Are Turkey Vultures Buzzards?

No, turkey vultures are true vultures, not buzzards. They belong to the family Cathartidae in the order Cathartiformes. Turkey vultures have the typical vulture appearance and behaviors. In the Americas, turkey vultures occupy the niche often filled by buzzards in other parts of the world.

What Birds are Called Buzzards?

Common buzzards belong to various Buteo species. Other buzzard groups include honey buzzards, forest buzzards, marsh buzzards, and grasshopper buzzards. The most diverse buzzard genus is Buteo, with wide-ranging species like red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, and broad-winged hawks in North America.

What’s the Difference Between Hawks and Buzzards?

Hawks and buzzards are closely related and belong to the same family Accipitridae. Generally “buzzard” refers to a broad-winged soaring hawk that mainly eats small mammals, birds and reptiles. However, the terms hawk and buzzard are often used interchangeably for Buteo species like red-tailed hawks.

Are Old World Vultures Related to New World Vultures?

No, Old World vultures are part of the Accipitridae family which includes eagles, hawks, kites, and buzzards. However, New World vultures belong to a separate family Cathartidae. The two groups look similar and occupy the same niche but evolved from different ancestor species.

Can Buzzards Soar Like Vultures?

Yes, though not quite as efficiently as the specialized soaring vultures. Broad-winged buzzard species like red-tailed hawks are well adapted for thermal soaring. Their shorter, broader wings provide more maneuverability and flapping flight compared to the longer, narrower vulture wings optimized just for soaring.

Conclusion

In summary, buzzards and vultures are distinct types of scavenging birds with key differences in their appearance, habits, ecology, and taxonomy. While buzzards are opportunistic hunters occupying diverse global regions, vultures are highly specialized for scanning and soaring over open terrain in search of carrion. Paying attention to details like plumage patterns, feeding behavior, habitat preferences, and proportions makes it easier to distinguish buzzards from vultures in the field for bird watchers and biologists. Both play integral roles as wide-ranging scavengers helping recycle nutrients back into natural food chains.

What’s the Difference Between Buzzards and Vultures?

Buzzards and vultures are often confused with one another, but they actually belong to different groups of birds and have distinct traits when it comes to appearance, behavior, habitat preferences, and classification. Here are some of the key differences between these two types of large, soaring birds.

Appearance

Size: Buzzards tend to be smaller and stockier than vultures. Red-tailed hawks reach 18-25 inches long with a wingspan of 40-55 inches. Turkey vultures average 25-32 inches long with a wingspan around 67 inches.
Proportions: Buzzards have a compact, broad-chested build compared to the lankier proportions of most vultures.
Plumage: Buzzards have variable plumage ranging from reddish-brown to white, black and gray. Vultures are more uniformly blackish with minimal white markings.
Head: Buzzards have a fully feathered head, while vultures have a small bare head that is red or pinkish.
Feet: Buzzards have large feet with powerful talons for grabbing prey. Vultures have weaker feet suited for walking and perching.

Behavior

Feeding: Buzzards actively hunt live prey including small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Vultures feed exclusively on carrion or dead animals.
Social: Buzzards are often solitary or in pairs, while vultures congregate in large flocks at carcasses and communal roosts.
Aggression: Buzzards aggressively defend carcasses and chase away competitors. Vultures patiently wait their turn when feeding.

Habitat

Climate: Buzzards occupy diverse habitats from temperate to tropical regions globally. Vultures are concentrated in warmer tropical and subtropical zones.
Landscape: Buzzards utilize forests, grasslands, mountains and wetlands. Vultures prefer open country like grasslands, deserts and savannahs.
Range: Buzzards have an extensive range across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas. Vultures are limited mainly to the Americas, Africa and Eurasia.

Taxonomy

Family: Buzzards are in the family Accipitridae, while New World vultures belong to Cathartidae. Old World vultures are part of the Accipitridae.
Genera: Common buzzard genera include Buteo, Parabuteo, Geranoaetus and Hieraaetus. Vulture genera include Cathartes, Coragyps, Vultur and Aegypius.
Species: Familiar buzzard species include red-tailed hawks and red-shouldered hawks. Well known vulture species include turkey vultures and black vultures.

So in summary, buzzards and vultures may appear similar at first glance but show distinct differences when considering their appearance, feeding ecology, social behavior, habitat preferences, and taxonomic classification, which allows birdwatchers to properly separate and identify these unique types of birds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are turkey vultures a type of buzzard?

No, turkey vultures are true vultures, not buzzards. They belong to the family Cathartidae, while buzzards belong to the family Accipitridae. Turkey vultures share the typical physical and behavioral traits of New World vultures.

What birds are known as buzzards?

Common buzzards are in the genus Buteo and include widespread species like red-tailed hawks, broad-winged hawks, and red-shouldered hawks. Other groups called buzzards include forest buzzards, long-legged buzzards, and honey buzzards. Most buzzards are in the broad-winged soaring hawk group.

How can you tell buzzards apart from hawks?

Buzzards are a type of hawk, so there is some overlap. But “buzzard” generally refers to large, broad-winged hawks that mainly eat small mammals, other birds, and reptiles. Buzzards and hawks are in the same family Accipitridae, but buzzards specifically belong to the genus Buteo.

Do buzzards only eat dead animals?

No, unlike vultures, buzzards are active predators and hunters. They prey on live animals including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Buzzards use their talons to catch and kill prey. They will also eat carrion opportunistically.

Why don’t buzzards flock together like vultures?

Buzzards are usually solitary or seen in pairs, while vultures are highly social. The communal roosting habits of vultures likely help them spot carcasses more easily across wide open landscapes from high vantage points. As active hunters, buzzards have less need to gather in large flocks.

Can buzzards soar well like vultures?

Yes, many buzzard species like red-tailed hawks are adapted for thermal soaring. Their shorter, broader wings provide more agile flight with quicker takeoffs compared to vultures. But buzzards can effectively scan the landscape while soaring and gliding like vultures.

Conclusion

In summary, the key differences that distinguish buzzards from vultures include their size, proportions, plumage, head features, talons, feeding ecology, social behavior, habitat preferences, and taxonomic classification. Understanding these differences aids in identifying these unique soaring birds. Buzzards fill an important niche as habitat generalists and opportunistic hunters, while vultures are highly specialized scavengers in warm, open environments. Both play integral roles in their ecosystems.