# European Honey-buzzard (*Pernis apivorus*) The European Honey-buzzard is a special bird that loves to eat wasps and bees! With its long wings and beautiful colors, it soars high in the sky, looking for food in forests and fields. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![European Honey-buzzard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Herilaseviu..jpg&width=800) Photo: Sillerkiil, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Herilaseviu..jpg) ## Appearance The European Honey-buzzard has unique pale underparts with distinct barring on its tail and dark primary wing feathers. Its head is relatively small with striking yellow eyes, differentiating it from the more robust Common Buzzard. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Pernis ## Interesting facts - Some honey-buzzards have dark patterns that make them look like dangerous goshawks to scare away enemies! - Their nostrils can close almost completely, stopping dirt and stinging insects from getting in! - They rub their feathers with formic acid from ants, which helps keep nasty parasites away. - Unlike most raptors, they often walk on the ground, poking around for food with their beaks. ## Special abilities - **Sting-Proof Digger:** European Honey-buzzard has thick, overlapping feathers and specialized scales protecting them from stings, allowing them to dig up wasp nests safely. - **Underground Feast Finder:** European Honey-buzzard has powerful talons and a strong beak that helps them excavate deep into soil to reach hidden wasp larvae. - **Forest Detective:** European Honey-buzzard can spot camouflaged wasp nests from high above because of its incredibly sharp eyesight, even through dense canopy. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 52-60 cm - **Wingspan:** 110-135 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 30-35 days - **Migration Distance:** 8000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds mainly feast on tasty insect larvae, pupae, and honey found in underground nests! - **Primary Foods:** Wasp larvae, Wasp pupae, Honey, Adult wasps, Bees, Small amphibians - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common Wasp (*Vespula vulgaris*) — Main prey, eating larvae and pupae from their nests. - **Hunts:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Feeds on honey and larvae from their nests. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Goshawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-goshawk) (*Accipiter gentilis*) — Goshawks may predate honey-buzzard eggs or chicks in nests. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and never try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Honey-buzzard? 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 European Honey-buzzard? 52-60 cm ### What is European Honey-buzzard's wingspan? 110-135 cm ### How much does European Honey-buzzard weigh? 0.5-1.1 kg ### How long does European Honey-buzzard live? 10-25 years ### How fast can European Honey-buzzard move? 70 km/h ### What does European Honey-buzzard eat? These birds mainly feast on tasty insect larvae, pupae, and honey found in underground nests! ### Where is European Honey-buzzard usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Montedimezzo State Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/montedimezzo-state-nature-reserve) — IT · Park - [Beigua Regional Nature Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/beigua-regional-nature-park) — IT · Park - [Strait of Gibraltar Natural Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strait-of-gibraltar-natural-park) — Andalucía, ES · Park [View all places to see European Honey-buzzard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/european-honey-buzzard) ## 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: [European Honey-buzzard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-honey-buzzard)