Honey buzzard

    Pernis apivorus

Castilian: Abejero europeo

Catalan: Aligot vesper

Gallego: Miñato abelleiro

Euskera: Zapelatz liztorjalea

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Falconiformes

Family: Accipitridae

Migratory status: Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Least Concern”.

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THREATS

Urbanisation and reforestation with non-native species leads to loss of habitat, in addition to human disturbances during breeding season and hunting.

Length / size: 52-59 cm / 113-135 cm

Identification: This species possesses a wide variety of plumages, that run the colour scale from light to dark. In the common colour pattern, the underparts are light with horizontal brown bars, and the back is darker. The tail is long, with a dark stripe at the end and two other narrower intermediate stripes, and the head is grey with yellow irises. The females can be distinguished because of their larger size.

Song: Generally silent; during breeding season it makes a "peeeeooo peeeeooo" that is quite clear and mournful.

Diet: It prefers wasp and wasp larvae and bumblebees (adults and larvae), but it can also consume spiders, insects, and small vertebrates, such as amphibians and chicks of other birds, and even fruits.

Reproduction: They synchronise their breeding period with the time when their prey is most abundant. First the male goes to occupy the territory, and when the female arrives, courtship begins. This bird nests in the top half of the treetops, taking advantage of the nest from the previous year that increases in size as more branches and leaves are added to it. Incubation is done by both sexes, although the femal devotes more time to it. The male is responsible for bringing food to the chicks, while they are cared for by the mother.

HABITAT

It prefers deciduous forests (oak, beech, chestnut...) with open farming areas, scrubland or pastureland; it can also appear in pine, cork oak, and oak groves, although to a lesser extent. The range of elevations between which it moves goes from sea level up to 1,700 metres high.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is found in the northern third of the peninsula, in certain places in the Iberian and Central Systems, and in Zamora, Salamanca, the Moncayo Mountains, and the Cuenca and Las Villuercas Mountains.

In Castile and León: It breeds in all the provinces except Valladolid, and a significant part of the population nests in León and Palencia.

Movements and migrations: A significant part of the European population abandons its breeding area and crosses our country, around early September, reaching the Strait of Gibraltar, where it joins other migrants waiting for the appropriate weather conditions for crossing the sea. In May, the prenuptial migration takes place.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 900-1300 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 300-400 breeding pairs.