Biometrics
Length: 52 - 60 cm
Wingspan: 135 - 150 cm
Curiosities
Other names: pern
It is one of the only known predators that feeds on the largest wasp in the world, the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia).
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- Bútio-vespeiro (Pernis apivorus)
European honey buzzard
(Pernis apivorus)
Class Aves, Order Accipitriformes, Family Accipitridae
General description
The European honey buzzard is a difficult to spot bird of prey, due to its similarity to the more abundant common buzzard (Buteo buteo). It has brown tones, narrow neck, long and closed tail when gliding and very narrow wing tips. Adult males of this species are greyish-brown, with a grey head, yellow eyes and many brown or reddish-brown bars on the underside. Females are browner on the back and on the head. On the wing tips, its “fingers” are characteristically black, and it has wide black stripes on the tail: one at the end and two at the base.
Feeding
This species is a specialist, feeding mainly on the larvae and adults of several different wasp species. It usually spots wasp adults and follows them to the nest. However, it can also hunt other birds, small amphibians and reptiles.
Behavior
It’s an uncommon bird and quite difficult to observe, due to its elusive behavior and low population density. It nests in branches of tall trees.
In Portugal
The European honey buzzard nests during the summer in Portugal, so it’s possible to observe it from May to September or early October. Its distribution is more concentrated in the North of the country and inland, but it can be observed in the Algarve area during its migration, after the breeding season. It prefers forest habitats, such as oak forests and cork oak forests, interspersed with open terrain, such as crops and pastures. It can also, although more rarely, occur in pine or eucalyptus forests. The destruction of mature native forests, through inadequate forestry practices, such as logging and fires, leads to the loss of this species nesting habitat. Other factors contributing to the European honey buzzard population decline are poaching and collision with electrical power lines.