# Long-legged Buzzard (*Buteo rufinus*) The Long-legged Buzzard is a large bird of prey with long legs and beautiful feathers. It soars high in the sky, looking for small animals to catch for lunch! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Long-legged Buzzard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Long-legged_Buzzard_-_Bukhara_-_Uzbekistan_S4E6617_%2815524034371%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Long-legged_Buzzard_-_Bukhara_-_Uzbekistan_S4E6617_%2815524034371%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Long-legged Buzzard has striking rufous (reddish-brown) plumage, especially on its tail and belly. It features visibly longer, feathered legs compared to other buzzards and often displays dark carpal patches on its underwings. Its head is typically paler, giving it a distinctive appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Buteo ## Interesting facts - Their scientific name 'rufinus' means 'reddish,' perfectly describing their striking tail feathers! - These buzzards sometimes stand tall on perches, like watchtowers, scanning for their next meal! - They come in different color patterns, from very pale to dark brown, even within the same family! - Unlike many birds, Long-legged Buzzards often reuse their nests year after year, adding new sticks! ## Special abilities - **Eagle Eye:** Long-legged Buzzard has incredible eyesight that helps them spot tiny prey like mice from high above. - **Sky Surfer:** Long-legged Buzzard can soar effortlessly for hours because of its broad wings, conserving energy while hunting. - **Power Pounce:** Long-legged Buzzard has strong, sharp talons that help them firmly grasp and carry away captured prey. - **Long Reach:** Long-legged Buzzard has longer legs than other buzzards that help them navigate rocky terrain and snatch prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-66 cm - **Wingspan:** 115-160 cm - **Weight:** 0.8-1.9 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-5 - **Incubation:** 30-34 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding This bird of prey primarily eats small mammals and reptiles, hunting from the sky. - **Age differences:** Young buzzards start with easier-to-catch insects before switching to larger prey. - **Primary Foods:** Voles, Gerbils, Lizards, Snakes, Large Insects, Young Birds - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Libyan Jird (*Meriones libycus*) — A key prey item in its desert habitats. - **Hunts:** Social Vole (*Microtus socialis*) — A common small mammal hunted in steppe regions. - **Eaten by:** [Common Raven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-raven) (*Corvus corax*) — Occasionally preys on eggs and young chicks. - **Hunts:** Levantine Viper (*Macrovipera lebetina*) — Predates on venomous snakes, a fearless hunter. ## 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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [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:** 2/5 · Low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Long-legged 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 Long-legged Buzzard? 50-66 cm ### What is Long-legged Buzzard's wingspan? 115-160 cm ### How much does Long-legged Buzzard weigh? 0.8-1.9 kg ### How long does Long-legged Buzzard live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Long-legged Buzzard move? 60 km/h ### What does Long-legged Buzzard eat? This bird of prey primarily eats small mammals and reptiles, hunting from the sky. ### Where is Long-legged Buzzard usually found? Mountain regions ## 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: [Long-legged Buzzard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-legged-buzzard)