Buzzard

[Benjy]

Attempted buzzard in flight this morning ..........

[Barbara Ponder]

Are you sure that is a buzzard? Looks like a hawk to me. Either way nice job!

[Brownbear]

Hi Bernard,

Looks like a Hawk to me, too. Nice effort for a such a fast flying bird!

I peeked at your exif data and it shows a SS of 1/1000 f/18 ISO 1600 +1 Exp Comp in Shutter Priority mode.

If you have the chance to photograph a Hawk in similar lighting conditions (looks like it was a bright day) try choosing a faster shutter speed (say 1/1600 or at least 1/1250), an aperture of f8 or larger by lowering the ISO using exposure compensation. ie; f/18 is not necessary.

[Geoff F]

Looks like typical buzzard wing markings to me. We don't have many large hawks in the UK.

They are mostly fairly slow moving but are difficult to get close enough for a decent photo. I don't think I have ever taken a good buzzard shot.

Yes, ideally, use a lower Iso and open up the lens a little; but did you have any 'thinking time' with these shots.

[Inkanyezi]

I am not surprised that the buzzard looks like a hawk to New World people, as the American Buzzard is a totally different bird. In Europe, there are almost no vultures, and the buteo species are what's called buzzards in British English. Buteo buteo looks very much like a hawk.

[IzzieK]

Nice try to get a flying pose, Benjy...if only it is more bigger...

[Benjy]

Thanks all for taking time to view and comment,it is definitely a Buzzard,was trying to catch this girl when Buzzard flew overhead,all taken in a rush .....

[jcuknz]

#7 is interesting with the explanation of the pose.

[Rebel]

Thanks all for taking time to view and comment,it is definitely a Buzzard,was trying to catch this girl when Buzzard flew overhead,all taken in a rush .....

Now that is a nice shot! What bird is this Bernard?

[IzzieK]

That's a good shot of a nice pose, Benjy...I love it...different perspective...do you have any more of this last one?

[JohnRostron]

I am not surprised that the buzzard looks like a hawk to New World people, as the American Buzzard is a totally different bird. In Europe, there are almost no vultures, and the buteo species are what's called buzzards in British English. Buteo buteo looks very much like a hawk.

If I may add to Urban's comment. In Europe we have birds of the genus Accipiter which we call hawks. In the UK we have the Sparrowhawk (common) and the Northern Goshawk (rare). Birds of the genus Buteo, we call Buzzards. There is only one common species in the UK, but we also get the Rough-legged Buzzard on migration.

You do get the Goshawk in North America. This is the only Accipiter in the New World.

In the New World, most Buteo species are called 'hawks', such as the Red-tailed Hawk.

The birds known as 'Buzzards' or 'Turkey Vultures' in the Americas are actually members of a family unrelated to both the Old World Buzzards and Old World Vultures. They are actually more closely related to storks!

The way that animals are named on the two sides of the Atlantic reminds me of the phase 'Two nations divided by a common language'.

John

[Benjy]

Thanks all for nice comments much appreciated Matt it is a male great spotted woodpecker,Izzie lots of shots,hang a feeder in woods,hide,, then wait.and wait,then- ya dancer-they appear,mating season starting now...............

[flashback]

If I may add to Urban's comment. In Europe we have birds of the genus Accipiter which we call hawks. In the UK we have the Sparrowhawk (common) and the Northern Goshawk (rare). Birds of the genus Buteo, we call Buzzards. There is only one common species in the UK, but we also get the Rough-legged Buzzard on migration.

You do get the Goshawk in North America. This is the only Accipiter in the New World.

In the New World, most Buteo species are called 'hawks', such as the Red-tailed Hawk.

The birds known as 'Buzzards' or 'Turkey Vultures' in the Americas are actually members of a family unrelated to both the Old World Buzzards and Old World Vultures. They are actually more closely related to storks!

The way that animals are named on the two sides of the Atlantic reminds me of the phase 'Two nations divided by a common language'.

John

Actually there are three members of the Accipitridae in North America, the Northern goshawk, Sharp-shinned hawk and Cooper's hawk.
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is in the Order Cathartiformes, Family Cathartidae and is not considered to be related to the storks and may be a sister group to Accipitriformes.

[JohnRostron]

Actually there are three members of the Accipitridae in North America, the Northern goshawk, Sharp-shinned hawk and Cooper's hawk.
The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is in the Order Cathartiformes, Family Cathartidae and is not considered to be related to the storks and may be a sister group to Accipitriformes.

Obviously my information on bird classification is out-of-date! What I said was the received wisdom some years ago. I have been retired from academic life for nearly eight years now.

John