The geographical distribution of the bird known as the buzzard is vast, spanning multiple continents and climates. Understanding where these birds are found requires recognizing that the term changes dramatically depending on whether you are observing it in the Old World or the New World.
What Exactly is a Buzzard?
The word “buzzard” causes taxonomic confusion because it refers to two distinct groups of birds on opposite sides of the globe. In Europe, Africa, and Asia, the term identifies medium-sized birds of prey belonging to the genus Buteo. These true buzzards are soaring raptors characterized by broad wings and robust bodies, hunting live prey like small mammals and rodents. The most common example is the Eurasian Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), a widespread predator across the Palearctic.
In the Americas, the meaning of the word changes completely, as “buzzard” is a common, non-scientific term used for New World Vultures. This misnomer most frequently applies to the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) and the Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus). Unlike the Old World raptors, these birds are scavengers that feed almost exclusively on carrion. They belong to a separate family of birds and are not closely related to the Buteo species.
The Range of Old World Buzzards (Buteo Species)
The true buzzards of the Buteo genus are distributed widely across Eurasia and Africa. The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is the most recognizable of this group, with a breeding range stretching across nearly all of Europe and eastward into parts of northwestern China and Mongolia. This species is one of the most numerous diurnal raptors found throughout the Western Palearctic.
The range of these birds extends significantly southward into Africa and the Middle East, primarily through migratory populations. For example, the Steppe Buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus), a subspecies found in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, undertakes an annual long-distance migration to winter in sub-Saharan Africa. These populations often funnel through narrow corridors like the Bab al Mandab Strait. Other species, such as the Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus), are found from Southeastern Europe and Central Asia down into North Africa and the northern Indian subcontinent.
Where American “Buzzards” (Vultures) Roam
In the Western Hemisphere, the birds colloquially called buzzards are New World Vultures, and their distribution covers the entire latitudinal range of the Americas. The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) possesses the most extensive range of any species in the family. Its breeding and foraging territory stretches from southern Canada, throughout the continental United States and Mexico, and deep into South America, reaching as far south as Tierra del Fuego.
The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) also occupies a large area, though its distribution is slightly more restricted in the north compared to the Turkey Vulture. This species is commonly found in the southeastern United States, Central America, and most of South America, extending down to Argentina and Chile. Both vulture species are adaptable, but the Turkey Vulture is more common in northern and western areas, while the Black Vulture dominates the southeastern and tropical regions.
Preferred Habitats and Migration Patterns
The buzzards and vultures, despite their taxonomic differences, share a preference for open or semi-open habitats that facilitate their hunting and scavenging methods. Buteo species favor landscapes that offer a mix of clearings for hunting and elevated perching sites or trees for nesting. Their territories often include forest edges, grasslands, cultivated lands, and mountainous regions where they can effectively spot prey like rodents and small birds.
Migration patterns vary significantly even within the true buzzard group. Some populations in Western Europe are largely resident, remaining year-round in their territories. Conversely, northern and eastern populations are obligate migrants, traveling south to avoid harsh winters; some Steppe Buzzards cross the Mediterranean to winter in Africa. New World Vultures also exhibit seasonal movement, with northern Turkey Vultures migrating long distances to Central and South America. In warmer regions, both Turkey and Black Vultures are often permanent, non-migratory residents.