In much of Europe, the common buzzard is the only type of buzzard. However, the subarctic breeding rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus) comes down to occupy much of the northern part of the continent during winter in the same haunts as the common buzzard. However, the rough-legged buzzard is typically larger and distinctly longer-winged with feathered legs, as well as having a white based tail with a broad subterminal band. Rough-legged buzzards have slower wing beats and hover far more frequently than do common buzzards. The carpal patch marking on the under-wing are also bolder and blacker on all paler forms of rough-legged hawk. Many pale morph rough-legged buzzards have a bold, blackish band across the belly against contrasting paler feathers, a feature which rarely appears in individual common buzzard. Usually the face also appears somewhat whitish in most pale morphs of rough-legged buzzards, which is true of only extremely pale common buzzards. Dark morph rough-legged buzzards are usually distinctly darker (ranging to almost blackish) than even extreme dark individuals of common buzzards in Europe and still have the distinct white-based tail and broad subterminal band of other roughlegs. In eastern Europe and much of the Asian range of common buzzards, the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) may live alongside the common species. As in the steppe buzzard race, the long-legged buzzard has three main colour morphs that are more or less similar in hue. In both the steppe buzzard race and long-legged buzzard, the main colour is overall fairly rufous. More so than steppe buzzards, long-legged buzzards tend to have a distinctly paler head and neck compared to other feathers, and, more distinctly, a normally unbarred tail. Furthermore, the long-legged buzzard is usually a rather larger bird, often considered fairly eagle-like in appearance (although it does appear gracile and small-billed even compared to smaller true eagles), an effect enhanced by its longer tarsi, somewhat longer neck and relatively elongated wings. The flight style of the latter species is deeper, slower and more aquiline, with much more frequent hovering, showing a more protruding head and a slightly higher V held in a soar. The smaller North African and Arabian race of long-legged buzzard (B. r. cirtensis) is more similar in size and nearly all colour characteristics to steppe buzzard, extending to the heavily streaked juvenile plumage, in some cases such birds can be distinguished only by their proportions and flight patterns which remain unchanged. Hybridization with the latter race (B. r. cirtensis) and nominate common buzzards has been observed in the Strait of Gibraltar, a few such birds have been reported potentially in the southern Mediterranean due to mutually encroaching ranges, which are blurring possibly due to climate change.Elorriaga, J., & Muñoz, A. R. (2013). Hybridisation between the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo and the North African race of Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis in the Strait of Gibraltar: prelude or preclude to colonisation? Ostrich, 84(1), 41–45.
In much of Europe the common buzzard is the only type of buzzard However the subarctic breeding rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus) comes down to occupy much of the northern part of the continent during winter in the same haunts as the common buzzard However the rough-legged buzzard is typically larger and distinctly longer-winged with feathered legs as well as having a white based tail with a broad subterminal band Rough-legged buzzards have slower wing beats and hover far more frequently than do common buzzards The carpal patch marking on the under-wing are also bolder and blacker on all paler forms of rough-legged hawk Many pale morph rough-legged buzzards have a bold blackish band across the belly against contrasting paler feathers a feature which rarely appears in individual common buzzard Usually the face also appears somewhat whitish in most pale morphs of rough-legged buzzards which is true of only extremely pale common buzzards Dark morph rough-legged buzzards are usually distinctly darker (ranging to almost blackish) than even extreme dark individuals of common buzzards in Europe and still have the distinct white-based tail and broad subterminal band of other roughlegs In eastern Europe and much of the Asian range of common buzzards the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) may live alongside the common species As in the steppe buzzard race the long-legged buzzard has three main colour morphs that are more or less similar in hue In both the steppe buzzard race and long-legged buzzard the main colour is overall fairly rufous More so than steppe buzzards long-legged buzzards tend to have a distinctly paler head and neck compared to other feathers and more distinctly a normally unbarred tail Furthermore the long-legged buzzard is usually a rather larger bird often considered fairly eagle-like in appearance (although it does appear gracile and small-billed even compared to smaller true eagles) an effect enhanced by its longer tarsi somewhat longer neck and relatively elongated wings The flight style of the latter species is deeper slower and more aquiline with much more frequent hovering showing a more protruding head and a slightly higher V held in a soar The smaller North African and Arabian race of long-legged buzzard (B r cirtensis) is more similar in size and nearly all colour characteristics to steppe buzzard extending to the heavily streaked juvenile plumage in some cases such birds can be distinguished only by their proportions and flight patterns which remain unchanged Hybridization with the latter race (B r cirtensis) and nominate common buzzards has been observed in the Strait of Gibraltar a few such birds have been reported potentially in the southern Mediterranean due to mutually encroaching ranges which are blurring possibly due to climate changeElorriaga J & Muñoz A R (2013) Hybridisation between the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo and the North African race of Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis in the Strait of Gibraltar prelude or preclude to colonisation Ostrich 84(1) 41–45