Buteo

Buteo (Etymology: Buteo is the Latin name of the Common Buzzard) is a genus of medium to fairly large, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings. In the Old World, members of this genus are called "buzzards", but "hawk" is used in North America. As both terms are ambiguous, buteo is sometimes used instead, for example, by the Peregrine Fund.

Characteristics
Buteos range in size from the Roadside Hawk, which averages 270 g and 35 cm long, to the Ferruginous Hawk and Upland Buzzard, both at 1,350 g and 60 cm long. They are noted for their broad wings and sturdy builds. The Buteos frequently soar on thermals at mid-day over openings and are most frequently seen while doing this. They inhabit a wide range of habitats across the world but tend to prefer some access to both clearings and trees.

All Buteos are to some extent opportunistic when it comes to hunting and will predate almost any type of small animal as it becomes available to them. However, most have a strong preference for small mammals and among these mostly rodents. Rodents of almost every family in the world are somewhere predated by Buteos. Birds are taken occasionally as well, although most small birds can successfully evade Buteos. Mid-sized birds such as waterfowl, corvids, pigeons and gamebirds are most often taken, but even these are generally predated when distracted. Other prey may include snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, fish, and even various invertebrates, especially beetles. Carrion is eaten occasionally by most Buteos but is almost always secondary to live prey. Prey is often spotted from a great distance while soaring and is set down upon while circling down to the ground. Other Buteos may prefer to ambush prey by pouncing down to the ground directly from a perch.

The Buteo hawks include many of the most widely distributed and best known raptors in the world. Examples include the Red-tailed Hawk of North America, the Common Buzzard of Eurasia, and the Roadside Hawk of tropical Central and South America. Most Northern Hemisphere species are at least partially migratory. In North America, species such as Broad-winged Hawks and Swainson's Hawks are known for their huge numbers (often called "kettles") while passing over major migratory flyways in the fall.

Species in taxonomic order

 * Grey Hawk, Buteo plagiatus - formerly in Asturina
 * Grey-lined Hawk, Buteo nitidus
 * Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus
 * Ridgway's Hawk, Buteo ridgwayi
 * Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus
 * Hawaiian Hawk, Buteo solitarius
 * White-throated Hawk, Buteo albigula
 * Short-tailed Hawk, Buteo brachyurus
 * Galápagos Hawk, Buteo galapagoensis
 * Swainson's Hawk, Buteo swainsoni
 * Zone-tailed Hawk, Buteo albonotatus
 * Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
 * Rufous-tailed Hawk, Buteo ventralis
 * Rough-legged Hawk / Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus
 * Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis
 * Madagascan Buzzard, Buteo brachypterus
 * Archer's Buzzard, Buteo archeri
 * Red-necked Buzzard, Buteo auguralis
 * Augur Buzzard, Buteo augur
 * Jackal Buzzard, Buteo rufofuscus
 * Eastern Buzzard, Buteo japonicus
 * Upland Buzzard, Buteo hemilasius
 * Himalayan Buzzard, Buteo burmanicus
 * Mountain Buzzard, Buteo oreophilus
 * Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
 * Madeira Buzzard, Buteo buteo harterti
 * Steppe Buzzard, Buteo buteo vulpinus
 * Forest Buzzard, Buteo trizonatus
 * Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus
 * Cape Verde Buzzard, Buteo bannermani
 * Socotra Buzzard, Buteo socotraensis
 * Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus
 * Cape Verde Buzzard, Buteo bannermani
 * Socotra Buzzard, Buteo socotraensis

In other genera

 * White-rumped Hawk, Geranoaetus leucorrhous
 * White-tailed Hawk, Geranoaetus albicaudatus
 * Variable Hawk, Geranoaetus polyosoma
 * Red-backed Hawk, Buteo (p.) polyosoma
 * Juan Fernández Hawk, Buteo (polyosoma) exsul
 * Puna Hawk, Buteo (polyosoma) poecilochrous
 * Roadside Hawk, Rupornis magnirostris

Fossil record
A number of fossil species have been discovered, mainly in North America. Some are placed here primarily based on considerations of biogeography, Buteo being somewhat hard to distinguish from Geranoaetus based on osteology alone:


 * Buteo fluviaticus (Brule Middle Oligocene of Wealt County, USA) - possibly same as B. grangeri
 * Buteo grangeri (Brule Middle Oligocene of Washabaugh County, USA)
 * Buteo antecursor (Brule Late Oligocene)
 * ?Buteo sp. (Brule Late Oligocene of Washington County, USA)
 * Buteo ales (Agate Fossil Beds Early Miocene of Sioux County, USA) - formerly in Geranospiza or Geranoaetus
 * Buteo typhoius (Olcott Early ?- Snake Creek Late Miocene of Sioux County, USA)
 * Buteo pusillus (Middle Miocene of Grive-Saint-Alban, France)
 * Buteo sp. (Middle Miocene of Grive-Saint-Alban, France - Early Pleistocene of Bacton, England)
 * Buteo contortus (Snake Creek Late Miocene of Sioux County, USA) - formerly in Geranoaetus
 * Buteo spassovi (Late Miocene of Chadžidimovo, Bulgaria)
 * Buteo musculosus (Miocene of Argentina) - formerly in Thegornis
 * Buteo conterminus (Snake Creek Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Sioux County, USA) - formerly in Geranoaetus
 * Buteo sp. (Late Miocene/Early Pliocene of Lee Creek Mine, USA)
 * Buteo sanya (Late Pleistocene of Luobidang Cave, China)

An unidentifiable accipitrid that occurred on Ibiza in the Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene may also have been a Buteo. If this is so, the bird can be expected to aid in untangling the complicated evolutionary history of the Common Buzzard group.

The prehistoric species "Aquila" danana, Buteogallus fragilis (Fragile Eagle), and Spizaetus grinnelli were at one time also placed in Buteo.