Dictionary Definition

buzzard

1 common in South America and Central America and southern United States [syn: turkey buzzard, turkey vulture, Cathartes aura]

2 the common European short-winged hawk [syn: Buteo buteo]

User Contributed Dictionary

In the Old World, any bird of prey of the genus Buteo, having broad wings and a broad tail.
In North America, a general term for scavenging birds such as the American black vulture, also called American black buzzard (Coragyps atratus), and the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura).

Genus Buteo

American black vulture

turkey vulture

This article is about the type of bird. For the Russian ship class, see Sovremenny class destroyer.

A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.

Buzzard can mean:

One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings.

In particular, those in the genus Buteo. In the Old World, members of this genus are named as "buzzards", but "hawk" is more common in North America.
Specifically, in Europe, the Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo, where Buzzard is often used as a synonym.
Any raptor which has the word buzzard as part of its name.

Buzzard can mean:

A vulture, particularly the American Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture, or as a general term for vultures.
In parts of the United States where they are considered pest, particularly in rural areas, a derogatory term for certain birds of prey, such as the Chickenhawk (a common colloquial name referring to both the Red-tailed Hawk and the Cooper's Hawk), or the Duck hawk (known elsewhere as the Peregrine Falcon). In the U.S., the term "buzzard" is never used to refer to birds of prey, like hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls, outside of this context.
Rarely, a derogatory term for any large bird that happens to be a scavenger, such as a raven or albatross (in other words, any large bird that is neither predatory nor flightless).

The Old World and New World uses are almost antonyms.

Long-tailed Honey-buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda)
Black Honey-buzzard (Henicopernis infuscatus)
Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon)
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
Grasshopper Buzzard (Butastur rufipennis)
White-eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa)
Rufous-winged Buzzard (Butastur liventer)
Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)
Black-chested Buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)
The honey-buzzards, genus Pernis, superficially resemble Buteo buzzards, hence the name, but are specialist feeders on wasp nests and larvae.
- European or Eurasian Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
- Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
- Barred Honey-buzzard (Pernis celebensis)