Oriental Honey Buzzard

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Oriental Honey Buzzard
Male at Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Genus: Pernis Species: P. ptilorhynchus
Binomial name
Pernis ptilorhynchus Temminck, 1821

The Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus, is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers. This species is also known as Oriental Honey-buzzard and Crested Honey Buzzard.

Despite its name, this species is not related to Buteo buzzards, and is taxonomically closer to the kites.

It breeds in Asia from central Siberia east to Japan. It is a summer migrant to Siberia, wintering in tropical south east Asia. Elsewhere it is more-or-less resident. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps, although it will take other small prey.

The Oriental Honey Buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping.

It is larger and longer winged than its western counterpart, Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus.

It appears long-necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. It has a long tail and a short head crest. It is brown above, but not as dark as Honey Buzzard, and paler below. There is a dark throat stripe.

Unusually for a large bird of prey, the sexes can be distinguished. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. She is slightly larger and darker than the male. The male has a black tail with a white band, whilst the female resembles female Honey Buzzard.

[edit] Mimicry

It has been suggested that the similarity in plumage between juvenile Oriental Honey Buzzard and the Spizaetus hawk-eagles has arisen as a partial protection against predation by larger raptors. The eagles have stronger bills and talons, and are likely to be less vulnerable than the Pernis species.

Similar mimicry is shown by the juveniles of the European Honey Buzzard, which resembles the Common Buzzard. Although the Northern Goshawk is capable of killing both species, it is likely to be more cautious about attacking the better protected Buteo species.

[edit] References

• British Birds, volume 99, March 2006

[edit] Gallery

Male in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.

Female at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.

Female at Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India.