European Honey Buzzard l Highly Evolved Raptor

European Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus — Source: https://bit.ly/3J1EMM5 Photo: Accipiter CCL: https://bit.ly/3ASqKcV

European Honey Buzzard Facts

This remarkable bird most frequently goes by the partially deceptive common name of the European Honey Buzzard across most of its range. Yet, this wonder also has alternate names, as well. These options include such relatively simple terms as the pern and common pern.
Among scientists, however, such as researchers, it’s perhaps best known by its official name. That’s the relatively easy to pronounce term of Pernis apivorus. Regardless of the title that one chooses to use when referring to it, though, it remains a fascinating variety of raptor.
Like many species in its region, it owes its formal name to the highly respected Swedish zoologist, Carl Linnaeus. That’s because the well known researcher accomplished the first known official recognition of the animal as a separate and distinct species, in the year 1758.
Despite its primary common name, this product of Nature and evolution isn’t actually closely related to buzzards. In point of fact, it’s significantly more closely related to kites, of two other genera. The bird’s further currently placed in the Family Accipitridae by ornithologists.
Fortunately, the amazing European Honey Buzzard appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both stable and sufficient. This also seems to hold true throughout the entirety of its range. The IUCN therefore lists it as Least Concern on its Red List of Threatened Species.
The impressive avian does face some potential threats to its continued existence as a species. These, however, consist of the same factors facing most species around the world. Habitat loss poses a potential danger, of course. Climate change likely forms its greatest threat, though.

Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja — Harpy Eagle

European Honey Buzzard Physical Description

The fabulous European Honey Buzzard quickly impresses those fortunate individuals who encounter it. Unlike some species, however, it does so for several reasons. While simple physical size isn’t the only factor on any list of such reasons, it’s likely the one many people notice most.

The intriguing bird stands out in this manner since it’s actually larger than many related species, such as the similarly-named common buzzard. This animal further measures so in terms of both its body length and wingspan. This surprising trait applies overall to individuals of both genders.

Also regarding sexes, like many creatures, the bird displays a certain degree of the physiological characteristic of sexual dimorphism. In its specific case, though, the trait manifests itself in two separate ways. This fact distinguishes it from many related species in yet another way.

In terms of sheer size, the female of the species attains a slightly greater average size than that of her male counterpart. Overall, however, individuals average about 20 – 24 in (52 – 60 cm) in body length. Wingspan for the bird, meanwhile, averages approximately 53 – 59 in (135 – 150 cm).

The second gender-based physical difference in this creature appears in terms of the coloring of the plumage. In general, this consists of varying shades of dark and light brown. Males, though, develop a bluish-gray head, while that of the female remains light brown, like the rest of the body.

The remarkable European Honey Buzzard also has a notably longer neck than most of its relatives. The head’s comparatively small, though the beak’s powerful. It also has a longer tail than most. It also evolved talons that develop as comparatively straight, further setting it apart from its peers.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Pernis
Species: P. apivorus

European Honey Buzzard Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

Fortunately, the fabulous European Honey Buzzard evolved as native to a relatively broad section of the surface of the globe. Even more, however, it also engages in seasonal migrations, like many other birds. This only serves to increase the territory in which it appears in to even greater extents.

Interestingly, this stunning raptor only lives its warmer seasons across the majority of the continent of Europe. There, it only strongly avoids the most northerly regions. Later, though, it migrates to more tropical regions in Africa. It thereby effectively inhabits two entirely separate ranges.

Like many varieties of avians, though, this animal also displays a fairly extensive adaptability regarding its choice of precise habitat within those broader ranges. In the more pristine ecosystems in which it makes appearances in, however, it displays a strong preference for areas of woodlands.

It nonetheless shows extremely little reservation about making its home in areas with a moderate human presence. In fact, in many parts of Europe, it’s frequently spotted in the immediate vicinity of plantations of various types. It also sometimes makes its nests in larger parks with sufficient trees.

The dazzling European Honey Buzzard also evolved in yet another manner that distinctively sets it apart from many others. That uniqueness manifests in its diet. That’s because this particular bird is a highly specialized feeder. Even in this area, though, the raptor distinguishes itself yet again.

Less commonly, however, thhis wonder of avian evolution sometimes consumes small reptiles, mammals, and even other birds. It primarily consumes both the larvae and the nests of hornet and wasps, however. It additionally represents the only known predator of the dreaded Asian Hornet!