Common Buzzard

Commonest large hawk in many areas, often seen soaring. Favors woodland and forest edge, farmland with hedges; locally in towns with larger trees and wooded parks. Also hunts over open country, especially moorland and rough grassland. Mainly seen as singles or pairs, circling over fields and woodlands with wings slightly raised. Rather stocky hawk with broad wings and fairly short, square-tipped tail (rounded when spread). Plumage variable but typically has paler breast band, fine dark tail barring (broad dark tail tip on adult).

In Sri Lanka, the common buzzard can be found primarily in the Horton Plains National Park, where they are often seen perched on Rhododendron trees, indicating a preference for high elevation mixed forests and open areas within the park; this is a migratory bird that arrives around September/October.

The common buzzard is a generalist predator that eats a wide variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.