Honey buzzard

The Honey buzzard is a mysterious bird. We don't knwo how many couples nest in the Netherlands because of their hidden lifestyle. The bird is a summer guest that arrives in mei and leaves in juli/august already again to Africa. The Honey buzzard breeds in forests and eats insects, larvae and maggets, but also small reptiles.

I initially had identified a Common buzzard as a Honey buzzard before I could take a good look at a real one. The more you see them, the easier identification becomes.

All my pictures can be found here 

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Pernis
Species: Pernis apivorus
Dutch name: Wespendief
Common name: Honey buzzard
Location: De Kampina, Noord-brabant, The Netherlands

Remarks: Honey buzzard, from above

All my pictures

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Pernis
Species: Pernis apivorus
Dutch name: Wespendief
Common name: Honey buzzard
Location: De Kampina, Noord-brabant, The Netherlands

Remarks: This beautiful bird circled above our head for a couple of rounds. Unfortunately against a grey sky but nevertheless unforgettable...

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Pernis
Species: Pernis apivorus
Dutch name: Wespendief
Common name: Honey buzzard
Location: De Kampina, Noord-brabant, The Netherlands

Remarks: Looks like a common Buzzard in silhouette, but in this close-up you can see the extreme banded underwingfeathers, as well as the longer tail and the dove-like head.

Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Pernis
Species: Pernis apivorus
Dutch name: Wespendief
Common name: Honey buzzard
Location: De Kampina, Noord-brabant, The Netherlands

Remarks:

Field characteristics

• Pigeonlike small head
• Banded underwings
• Long banded tail

Sound: