The question of whether a buzzard is a hawk is a classic source of confusion, stemming primarily from a linguistic disconnect between continents. These terms describe a group of birds of prey, or raptors, known for their hooked beaks and powerful talons, but their common names are applied inconsistently across the globe. The misapplication of “hawk” and “buzzard” is not a failure of biology but rather a result of early naturalists and settlers using familiar terms for unfamiliar birds.
The Global Naming Divide
The primary reason for the naming confusion is the different meanings assigned to the word “buzzard” in the Old World versus the New World. In Europe, Asia, and Africa, the term “buzzard” is the standard common name for medium-sized birds of prey belonging to the genus Buteo. The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), for example, is a widespread and recognizable raptor across the Eurasian continent. These are generalist predators with broad wings that prey mainly on small mammals, such as voles and rodents.
When European settlers arrived in North America, they encountered raptors that were biologically similar to their familiar buzzards, but they frequently began calling these birds “hawks” instead. The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), a North American icon, occupies an ecological niche virtually identical to the Common Buzzard in the Old World.
Compounding this issue, the word “buzzard” also took on a completely different meaning in North America, where it became a colloquial name for vultures. When many people in the United States refer to a “buzzard,” they are actually describing the Turkey Vulture or the Black Vulture. These New World vultures are primarily scavengers that feed on carrion, a behavior that the Common Buzzard occasionally exhibits, which may have contributed to the misnomer.
Taxonomic Placement of Hawks and True Buzzards
To resolve the common name confusion, ornithologists rely on the scientific system of taxonomy, which places these birds within the order Accipitriformes. Within this order is the family Accipitridae, a diverse group that includes eagles, kites, Old World vultures, and the birds commonly called hawks and buzzards.
The core of the “buzzard versus hawk” debate lies within the genus Buteo, which contains approximately 30 species of broad-winged raptors. The “true buzzards” of the Old World and the “broad-winged hawks” of the New World, such as the Red-tailed Hawk and the Common Buzzard, are all members of this single genus.
The term “hawk” is a broader, less precise descriptor that encompasses multiple genera beyond Buteo. For instance, a raptor known as an Accipiter is also considered a hawk, but it belongs to a different genus with distinct physical and hunting characteristics.
The New World Vultures, which Americans often call “buzzards,” represent a much greater biological distinction. These birds, including the Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture, are classified in the family Cathartidae, which is placed in the separate order Cathartiformes. This classification means that the North American “buzzard” is not closely related to the true Buteo buzzards or hawks.
Key Identification Differences
The differences in shape and behavior offer practical ways to distinguish between the three main groups involved in the naming confusion: Buteos, Accipiters, and New World Vultures.
Buteos (True Buzzards/Broad-winged Hawks)
Buteos (True Buzzards/Broad-winged Hawks) are characterized by their robust bodies, broad wings, and relatively short tails. These birds are built for soaring, often circling high on thermal air currents while searching for prey on the ground. Their flight profile is generally a solid, plank-like silhouette, and they frequently hunt from elevated perches, swooping down to capture small mammals or reptiles.
Accipiters (Forest Hawks)
Accipiters (Forest Hawks) present a different silhouette, with shorter, rounded wings and noticeably long tails. This body plan is an adaptation for high maneuverability, allowing them to chase birds through dense forest cover. Their flight pattern is a distinct series of rapid wing flaps followed by a short glide, often described as a flap-flap-glide rhythm.
New World Vultures
New World Vultures are easily identified by their featherless heads, a trait suited for feeding on carrion. They are masters of soaring flight, holding their long, broad wings in a distinct shallow V-shape, known as a dihedral, as they balance on air currents. The tips of their flight feathers are often deeply slotted, and they can appear wobbly in flight, unlike the steadier, purposeful glide of a Buteo. Furthermore, their feet are poorly adapted for grasping and killing prey, lacking the powerful, bone-crushing talons of the true hawks and buzzards.