# Buteos (*buteo*) Buteos are large birds of prey that soar gracefully in the sky. They have strong wings and keen eyesight to spot their next meal from high above. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests, grasslands, and open areas - **Also known as:** Buteo Hawks, Buzzards, Hawks ![Buteos](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Buteo_buteo_-Netherlands-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Arend from Oosterhout, Netherlands, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Buteo_buteo_-Netherlands-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Buteos are medium to large raptors with robust bodies, broad wings, and short, wide tails. Their plumage often features rich browns, rufous tones, and pale undersides, with some species having distinct belly bands or dark wing linings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Brachiopoda - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Buteo ## Interesting facts - A Buteo can spot a mouse wiggling from over a mile away! - Some Buteos eat mostly insects, even large grasshoppers and crickets. - Their piercing 'kree-eee-ar' call is often used in movies! - They build huge stick nests, sometimes reusing them for many years! ## Special abilities - **Thermal Riding:** Buteos can soar effortlessly on rising warm air currents because of their broad wings, saving energy during hunts and migrations. - **Sharp-eyed Hunter:** Buteos have incredible eyesight that helps them spot tiny prey, like mice, from hundreds of feet in the air. - **Powerful Talons:** Buteos have strong, curved talons that help them grip and carry prey much heavier than themselves. - **Agile Flight:** Buteos can maneuver quickly in the air using their broad tails to steer, helping them chase prey through varied terrain. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 40-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 100-160 cm - **Weight:** 0.7-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Speed:** 190 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-5 - **Incubation:** 28-35 days - **Migration Distance:** 6000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds are skilled hunters, mostly eating small animals they catch with their powerful claws. - **Primary Foods:** Rodents, Small birds, Reptiles, Large insects - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — A common and essential food source. - **Hunts:** [Northern Bobwhite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-bobwhite) (*Colinus virginianus*) — Frequently targeted by Buteos in open fields. - **Shelter:** [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) — Often chosen for sturdy nesting platforms. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Preys on Buteo eggs and young. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always observe birds from a distance to avoid disturbing them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Buteos? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Buteos? 40-70 cm ### What is Buteos's wingspan? 100-160 cm ### How much does Buteos weigh? 0.7-2.5 kg ### How long does Buteos live? 10-20 years ### How fast can Buteos move? 190 km/h ### What does Buteos eat? These birds are skilled hunters, mostly eating small animals they catch with their powerful claws. ### Where is Buteos usually found? Forests, grasslands, and open areas ## Where to spot - [Flag Run Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flag-run-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Buteos: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/buteos)