EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD

Pernis apivorus

English: European Honey-buzzard.
German: Wespenbussard.
French: Bondrée apivore.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Accipitriformes.
Family: Accipitridae.

Longitud/Length

52-59 cm.

Envergadura/Wingspan

113-135 cm.

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

European Honey Buzzard can be confused with the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo), which has brown eyes.

On the other hand, the Booted Eagle in its light phase lacks the dark spot in the center of the lower wing (infra-coverts) and has tarsi covered with feathers.

Other species could be the Red Kite and the Black Kite, which have forked tails.

Sexo/Sexing

The male has a gray plumage on the head. The upper parts are gray. There is a dense black color under the outer primaries restricted to the base of the feather with a sharp boundary contrasting with the light part. On the other hand, the secondaries have a wide unbarred area in the central part of the feather. The rectrices are gray on top with a wide light brown area before the dark subterminal band.

The female has brown plumage on the head, with a little gray around the eye. The upper parts are brown. There is black color under the outer primaries without a sharp boundary contrasting with the white base. The secondaries have bars in the central part of the feather. Finally, the rectrices have regularly spaced bands and have a wide band in the middle of the feather.

Juveniles specimens cannot be sexed by the design of the plumage.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 3 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: with new plumage, that is, without moult limits. The iris is dark. The waxy and base of the beak are yellow and black only appears on the tip of the beak. Black also appears under the outer primaries including the tip and all the emargination of the feather. The secondaries have a regular and scarce barring. The rectrices are dark and usually have a regularly distributed numerous barring, although there are specimens that show a similar barring to the adult or even very poorly marked bars.

2nd-year specimen: these individuals have retained outer primaries and/or some juvenile rectrices.

Adult specimen: the iris is now an intense yellow. The wax and beak are dark. Black under the outer primaries only on the tips (see SEXING tab). The secondaries have a dark and wide subterminal bar. The rectrices are clear and have a well-defined dispersed barring.

Muda/Moult

European Honey-buzzards perform a complete postnuptial moult that usually begins in the breeding places, is suspended during migration and finished in the wintering areas. On the other hand, the postjuvenile moult begins in the spring months of the 2nd year of life, remaining usually in the wintering areas.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 13-14 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.

Observaciones/Remarks

Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECTORA GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult female specimen

1.- Right wing primaries. 2.- Primaries. 3.- Details of the primaries calamus. 4.- Details of the primaries outer vane. 5.- Details of the tip of the inner primaries. 6.- Details of the tip of the outer primaries. 7.- Details of the outer vane of the outer primaries. 8.- P10, P9 – S1, S2 beam. 9.- Secondaries (S1-S6). 10.- Secondaries (S7-S13). 11.- Right wing secondaries and tertials. 12.- Details of the secondaries calamus. 13.- Details of the tip of the secondaries. 14.- Details of the tip of the secondaries. 15.- Details of the outer vane of the secondaries. 16.- Right wing tertials. 17.- Primaries, secondaries and tertials of the right wing. 18.- Details of the joint between primaries and secondaries. 19.- Primaries, secondaries and tertials of the right wing. 20.- Details of the tip of the primaries in the assembly. 21.- Primaries, secondaries and tertials. Primary coverts and greater coverts. 22.- Primaries, secondaries and tertials. Primary coverts and greater coverts + median coverts. 23.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary and secondary coverts (G, M, and L). Alulas. 24.- Details of the primary coverts. 25.- Details of the tip of the primary coverts. 26.- Details of the greater coverts. 27.- Details of the tertiary coverts. 28.- Details of the secondaries along with all their coverts. 29.- Secondary coverts (G, M, and L). 30.- Tertiary coverts. 31.- Primary coverts. 32.- Greater coverts. 33.- Alulas. 34.- Rectrices. 35.- Rectrices. 36.- Details of the rectrices calamus. 37.- Details of the rectrices. 38.- Details of the tip of the rectrices. 39.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 40.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 41.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 42.- Uppertail coverts. 43.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 44.- Details of the undertail coverts. 45.- Undertail coverts. 46.- Infra primary coverts. 47.- Large infra secondary coverts. 48.- Right axilla feathers. 49.- Right scapula. 50.- Scapula feathers. 51.- Right flank feathers. 52.- Up: High back feathers. Down: low back feathers. 53.- Right thigh feathers. 54.- Crown feathers. 55.- Up: feathers and assembly of the middle belly. Down: feathers and assembly of the lower belly. 56.- Feathers and assembly of the chest. 57.- Nape feathers. 58.- Auricular feathers.

EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD

Medidas/Measures

Adult female specimen

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply