Birdr
  • Today
  • Life List
  • Community
Sign in
  • Today
  • Life List
  • Map
  • Trip Planner
  • Community
  • Field Guide
  • Skills
  • Gear Guides
  • Merch
Sign in
Made for birdrs, by birdrs  ·  Birdr ·  v0.1
Field GuideBlogAboutGear GuidesTrip PlannerCommunityBirdr ProPrivacy PolicyTermsSupport
Back to Field Guide
Long-legged Buzzard

Long-legged Buzzard

Buteo rufinus

Migration Flyway

Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species

Last Spotted Near You

View on eBirdWikipedia

About the Long-legged Buzzard

The long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) is a bird of prey found widely in several parts of Eurasia and in North Africa. This species ranges from Southeastern Europe down to East Africa to the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The long-legged buzzard is a member of the genus Buteo, being one of the larger species therein. This species is simultaneously considered relatively powerful and aggressive for its taxonomic group as well as a relatively sluggish raptor overall. Like most buzzards, it prefers small mammals such as rodents, including gerbils, ground squirrels, voles and rats, also taking reptiles, birds and insects as well as carrion. Adaptable to a variety of habitats, long-legged buzzards may nest on a variety of surfaces, including rocks, cliffs and trees.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name
Buteo rufinus
Family
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
Order
Accipitriformes

Similar species

Other members of the hawks, eagles, and kites family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

  • American Goshawk Astur atricapillus
  • Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
  • Bicolored Hawk Astur bicolor
  • Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus
  • Black Kite Milvus migrans
  • Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus melanoleucus
  • Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis
  • Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
  • Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis
  • Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus
  • Cooper's Hawk Astur cooperii
  • Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens

Know when the Long-legged Buzzard turns up near you

Add it to your watchlist and draw an alert zone around the places you actually bird. Birdr checks eBird reports and tells you when one is seen inside it.

How rare bird alerts work →

Gear for spotting Long-legged Buzzard

Optics

Best Binoculars for Beginners

You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.

8 min readRead guide
Cameras

Cameras for Bird Photography

From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.

12 min readRead guide
Optics

Spotting Scopes for Distance Birding

Essential for shorebirds, raptors, and anything too far for binoculars. Our tested picks.

9 min readRead guide