Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
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Overview
The Buzzard has made a remarkable comeback in England since the 1990s and is now increasingly seen over the Sefton Coast — quite unlike 20 years ago. A large, broad-winged raptor that soars for hours on thermals calling with a mewing 'pee-you' cry. Plumage is variable from very pale to dark brown but the broad, rounded wing outline and short rounded tail are constant. Often seen perched on fence posts watching for rabbits on farmland behind the sea wall.
At a Glance
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Habitat | Dune scrub · Farmland · Woodland edge · Open grassland |
| Diet | Earthworms, rabbits, carrion, small mammals, beetles |
| UK population | Around 57,000–79,000 pairs — one of UK's most successful conservation stories |
| Sefton Coast | Increasingly regular year-round; breeding in or near the dune system |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Soaring overhead over any part of the Sefton Coast. Also in trees and on fence posts watching for rabbits.
Identification
Large hawk. Broad, rounded wings, short rounded tail. Soars with wings in shallow V. Very variable in colour — brown with paler U-shape on breast usually visible. Mewing call. Wingtip 'fingers' spread when soaring.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Look up on any warm morning on the Sefton Coast. Buzzards soar high on thermals calling. The 'pee-you' mewing call is often heard before the bird is seen.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species is on the UK Green List, indicating a healthy population status in the UK context. It remains an important component of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why have Buzzards recovered so dramatically in England?
Buzzards were persecuted to the point of being almost absent from England by the mid-20th century, surviving mainly in Wales and Scotland. Legal protection from 1954 and the gradual reduction of illegal persecution allowed them to expand from western strongholds, recolonising England from the 1990s. They're now the UK's most common large raptor.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.