Quote:
Buteo is a genus of medium to fairly large, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings. In the Old World, members of this genus are called "buzzards", but "
hawk" is used in North America (Etymology:
Buteo is the Latin name of the common buzzard).
I can't understand you're nomenclature!
Hawk are birds mainly from the genus
Accipitr and this bird is for sore not belong to it!
He belong IMO to the genus
Buteo which is Buzzard in English, am I wrong?
Hi Benny! Thought you might be interested in this.
Thanks for the post, granny!
So, I had to look all this up! Have to admit, my brain is not geared for scientific nomenclature, so I don't pay much attention to it. "Birding" in my family, passed down from grandparents and parents, is to grab a field guide, match the picture, and learn a few facts and the common name. Done!
Here are how my field guides are organized.
"Raptor" is used to denote the (Order) Falconiformes, which are birds of prey (excluding owls and heron types).
Raptors are split into 3 general categories - vultures, hawks, and falcons
"Hawks" include
Accipiter (small hawks),
Circus (Harriers),
Buteo (big hawks), and a couple of other genus names.
Eagles, ospreys, and kites are lumped in with the hawks, but do not include "hawk" in the common name.
I thought the bird in question might be a Swainson's Hawk (
Buteo swainsoni) or a Cooper's Hawk (
Accipiter cooperii). My best guess is it is an immature Cooper's Hawk. Sharp-Shinned Hawk (
Accipiter striatus) is also a possibility, but they are even smaller.
In North America, "buzzard" has come to refer only to vultures or other carrion eaters. It has a slightly derogatory tone, especially when calling someone
you old buzzard!
I now understand how the term buzzard is used in British produced documentaries. Always wondered why they were calling birds "buzzards" that were obviously (to me) large hawks or eagles! Even scientific nomenclature can't always prevent a language barrier.
h2oratt, did the bird rescue people identify it? I am very curious to know.