No. 7. Harriers and Buzzards



(Note: Click on Photos to enlarge the images)



Harriers and Buzzards are two families of medium-sized raptors that are seen all over Cyprus. Both families are predominantly summer visitors, and several species regularly breed here.



Long-legged Buzzard soaring



Marsh Harrier hunting, Mandria


Individual birds can be hard to identify in the field as they are often seen silhouetted against the sky, making the distinguishing features difficult to see. The use of binoculars or telescopes is obviously very helpful, but the general form and flight pattern also helps.


Montagu's Harrier - female hunting


Montagu's Harrier - juvenile at Anarita Park



Marsh Harrier hunting



Montagu's Harrier - male at Anarita Park



Montagu's Harrier - female hunting, Anarita



Marsh Harrier - hunting over reed beds, Akrotiri

Harriers generally have relatively narrow wings and long tails and are often seen gliding slowly and quite low to the ground as they hunt for their prey, usually over reed beds, marshes, meadows or open arable ground. The prey consists largely of small birds, mammals insects and lizards.



Montagu's Harrier - female resting at Anarita Park



Montagu's Harrier - male hunting, Anarita Park

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Buzzards tend to be more broad winged than Harriers and have a different flight pattern, generally soaring high up as they make use of thermals to aid their flight. The Common Buzzard that is now frequently seen in the UK is a very rare visitor to Cyprus. More commonly seen here are the Long-legged Buzzard (quite often mistaken for an eagle) and the Honey Buzzard.

The Long-legged Buzzard has a range of differing colour forms, including dark, rufous and pale - all of which makes identification even harder.  It feeds mostly on small mammals, reptiles and insects.


Long-legged Buzzard stooping on prey

The Honey Buzzard diet consists of numerous small animals, including reptiles, amphibians and bird nestlings. Interestingly the species also feeds its young on the nests of wasps, which the adults dig out with their claws.


Honey Buzzard - male at Akrotiri marshes


Honey Buzzard - male resting



All photographs and text by Trevor Fordham































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