Long-legged Buzzard

The Long-legged Buzzard is a large, pale buteo adapted to open, arid landscapes across southeastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It is closely related to the Common Buzzard but occupies drier, more open terrain and shows a paler, more variably colored plumage suited to life in steppe and semi-desert.

Adult tail feathers are typically a warm, unbarred rufous, contrasting with the narrowly barred tail typical of the Common Buzzard, though some individuals show faint banding. In flight the underwing shows a bold, dark carpal (wrist) patch against otherwise pale flight feathers, a strong identification feature useful even from isolated feathers showing this contrasting pattern. The head and breast feathers are notably pale, and the long primaries reflect this species' more open-country, soaring lifestyle compared to woodland buzzards.

Plumage is polymorphic, ranging from pale sandy-rufous through intermediate to dark chocolate-brown morphs, all sharing the pale head and dark carpal patch pattern. Juveniles are generally more heavily streaked below and show a duller, less clean tail color than adults. Molt is gradual and there is no strong seasonal plumage change, though worn late-summer feathers can look considerably paler than fresh ones.

This buzzard favors steppe, semi-desert, and rocky, sparsely vegetated hillsides across southeastern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Northern and higher-latitude populations are migratory, wintering in the Sahel, the Arabian Peninsula, and South Asia, while southern populations tend to be resident.

It hunts ground squirrels, gerbils, and other small mammals along with reptiles, often watching from an elevated perch or hovering briefly before dropping onto prey. Nests are built on cliff ledges, rocky outcrops, or occasionally in isolated trees, and the species gives a mewing call similar to other buzzards, most often heard during territorial or courtship flights.