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- What bird of prey have you spotted? ‘Birds of prey’ are large, predatory bird species that have hooked bills, sharp talons, strong feet, and keen eyesight and hearing.
- Sparrowhawk. Where: Variety of habitats, including gardens, across the UK. Description: Small. Males have blue-grey backs and white underparts with orange barring.
- Buzzard. Where: Grassland, farmland and woodland across the UK. Description: Medium. Brown plumage, broad wings and a short tail. ©Chris Lawrence. ©Bob Coyle.
- Red kite. Where: Woodland and farmland mainly in Wales and South East England. Description: Large. Reddish-brown plumage, black-tipped wings with white patches underneath, and a forked tail.
Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds).
- Buzzard. Buteo buteo. 51cm to 57cm. 113cm to 128cm. 550g to 1.3kg. Year-round. Learn more about the Buzzard. Common Buzzard. The Common buzzard is the UK’s most abundant bird of prey.
- Red Kite. Milvus milvus. 60cm to 72cm. 143cm to 195cm. 750g to 1.6kg. Year-round. Learn more about the Red Kite. Red kites are the UK’s largest common birds of prey, with an impressive wingspan of 175 to 185cm.
- Sparrowhawk. Accipiter nisus. 28cm to 40cm. 55cm to 70cm. 105g to 350g. Year-round. Learn more about the Sparrowhawk. Small but deadly, the Sparrowhawk is a small to medium-sized bird of prey from the Accipiter family.
- Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus. 32cm to 35cm. 71cm to 80cm. 136g to 314g. Year-round. Learn more about the Kestrel. Common kestrels are one of the UK’s most common birds of prey from the Falcon family.
Learn about the different types of birds of prey in the UK, their features, habits, and calls. See photos and descriptions of 10 common raptors, from eagles and owls to buzzards and kestrels.
- Buzzard. Identification Tips: A medium-sized bird of prey (54cm long, 1.2m wingspan) with predominantly brown plumage (with cream/mottled details). Buzzards have broad wings,a short tail, and are often mistaken for eagles'.
- Hobby. Identification Tips: A very small falcon (35.5cm long, 87cm wingspan) that migrates to the UK in summer. They have grey plumage on top, with black streaks on a white belly, plus red/orange feathers on the legs, a white throat, and a black “moustache”.
- Kestrel. Identification Tips: A small falcon (36cm long, 76cm wingspan), kestrels have a grey head that’s framed by gingery-brown and creamy plumage with a variety of bands and speckles.
- Peregrine Falcon. Identification Tips: A medium-sized, heavy-set falcon (47cm long, 1.2m wingspan) that’s grey on top and white/cream down below (with black bars).
Protect the animals you love.
Here is our expert guide to British birds of prey, also known as raptors, found in the UK, including how to identify and best places to spot.
