ROUGH LEGGED BUZZARD
(buteo lagopus)
The Roughlegged Buzzard is so named because of the covering of feathers which extends down its legs as far as its toes. It is a bird of the northern tundra, where it breeds during the summer, migrating further south to winter quarters. Britain is at the extreme western end of its migration range.
The breeding and migration cycle of the Roughlegged Buzzard is dependent on the small mammal population which comprises the bulk of its diet. Lemmings are especially important. During years of glut, Buzzards breed freely during the summer and so, when the winter mammal population declines, large numbers of juveniles disperse southwards, resulting in large influxes into the UK.
FACT FILE:
LENGTH: 50 - 60cms (19 - 24ins)
WINGSPAN: 120- 150cms (47 - 59ins)
WEIGHT: 0.7 - 1 .6kg (1Ib 8oz - 31bs 10oz)
HABITAT: Low Iying tundra, but winter visitors to Britain favour moor land, wetlands, farm land and dunes.