European Honey-buzzard - A Field Guide to Birds of Armenia ::Acopian Center for the Environment

European Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Armenian Name:	Կրետակեր

Armenian Name:

Կրետակեր

Flight Characteristics:	Narrow projecting head and neck and relatively long tail with bold black bands near base. From below shows prominent bands across bases of flight feathers and across underwing coverts. Underparts vary in color from whitish to very dark brown. Male has a gray head; female has a brown head and neck. Juvenile has less distinct underwing pattern. Soars with tail fanned and relatively long narrow wings held level and straight out from body.
Resident Status:	Breeding bird
Abundance:	Uncommon
Length:	52-60 cm, Wing Span:135-150 cm
Distribution Map:	Map 27.
Description:	Slender head and neck and long tail.
Adult:	Male has gray head, female browner. Upperparts brown. Underwing with dark carpal patches and narrow bands. Tail has two dark bands at base and one broad subterminal band.
Juvenile:	Highly variable, but typically uniform brown with more even barring on underwings and undertail.
Similar Species:	Differs from Common Buzzard by smaller head, more slender neck, longer narrower wings, and longer tail.
Behavior:	Secretive, seen most often in flight or on migration. Feeds on ground in horizontal posture.
Habitat:	Deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges.
Food:	Primarily larvae of bees and wasps; small vertebrates.
Nest:	Platform of twigs and green foliage in tree.
Eggs:	52 mm, 2, white overlaid with red-brown.

Flight Characteristics:

Narrow projecting head and neck and relatively long tail with bold black bands near base. From below shows prominent bands across bases of flight feathers and across underwing coverts. Underparts vary in color from whitish to very dark brown. Male has a gray head; female has a brown head and neck. Juvenile has less distinct underwing pattern. Soars with tail fanned and relatively long narrow wings held level and straight out from body.

Resident Status:

Breeding bird

Abundance:

Uncommon

Length:

52-60 cm, Wing Span:135-150 cm

Distribution Map:

Map 27.

Description:

Slender head and neck and long tail.

Adult:

Male has gray head, female browner. Upperparts brown. Underwing with dark carpal patches and narrow bands. Tail has two dark bands at base and one broad subterminal band.

Juvenile:

Highly variable, but typically uniform brown with more even barring on underwings and undertail.

Similar Species:

Differs from Common Buzzard by smaller head, more slender neck, longer narrower wings, and longer tail.

Behavior:

Secretive, seen most often in flight or on migration. Feeds on ground in horizontal posture.

Habitat:

Deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges.

Food:

Primarily larvae of bees and wasps; small vertebrates.

Nest:

Platform of twigs and green foliage in tree.