Eurasian Buzzard

The Eurasian Buzzard is one of the most sought-after species to track on an African safari, and knowing its habits turns a hopeful search into a confident one. This field guide breaks down how to recognise the Eurasian Buzzard at a glance, the habitats and times of day that reward patient searching, and the practical tracking craft guides rely on. Read it before you set out and you will spend less time scanning empty bush and more time watching the animal itself.

Medium-sized, broad wingspan; tail relatively long with distinct transverse bands; plumage variable, typically brown on back and pale with spots on belly; wings form a broad triangle in flight; head small with short hooked beak

Concentrate your search for the Eurasian Buzzard in Open grasslands, sparse woodland savannas, edges of farmland, and semi-arid areas, the habitat where it feels most secure and finds its food. It is most active Diurnal, active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk, so plan your game drives around those hours rather than the heat of midday. Across the continent the species ranges through Mainly distributed across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and northern and eastern Africa, including Kenya and the Masai Mara region, and within that range the richest sightings come where prime habitat meets low human disturbance.

Finding the Eurasian Buzzard starts long before you see it. Learn the habitat it depends on — Open grasslands, sparse woodland savannas, edges of farmland, and semi-arid areas — and you narrow the search from an entire landscape to a handful of promising corners. Animals are not scattered at random; they sit where food, water, cover and safety overlap, and the Eurasian Buzzard is no exception.