THE COMMON BUZZARD

Buzzards are magnificent birds of prey, similar to small eagles. The colour of their plumage is quite variable but they are always various shades of brown with a paler band around the breast.

They were persecuted by farmers and gamekeepers in the 1800s and became extinct in this country just over a century ago. However, they re-colonised, without human help.

The first birds arrived in Co Antrim from Scotland in the 1950s and this was followed by a second colonisation from Wales into Co Wicklow.