Rough-legged Buzzard

A large buzzard that visits Central and Western Europe in winter. It breeds in the Arctic tundra. It is slightly larger and has longer wings than the Common Buzzard. Its Latin name 'lagopus' means 'hare-footed'. This refers to the feathers that cover its legs down to the toes. This adaptation protects it from extreme Arctic cold.

Unlike the Common Buzzard, this species frequently hovers like a kestrel while hunting. In the Arctic, it feeds almost exclusively on lemmings and voles. Its breeding success depends on the population cycles of these rodents. In winter, it hunts over open marshes and coastal fields.