CreatureData

Common buzzard vs Red-shouldered hawk

The common buzzard is heavier: 759.1 g against 603.7 g for the red-shouldered hawk, about 26% more.

Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common buzzard LCLeast Concern
Photo: caroline legg · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Red-shouldered hawk LCLeast Concern
Photo: Andrew C · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a common buzzard and a red-shouldered hawk?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The common buzzard is heavier: 759.1 g against 603.7 g for the red-shouldered hawk, about 26% more.
  • The common buzzard is longer-lived: 25.3 years against 20 years for the red-shouldered hawk, about 27% longer.
  • Both belong to the genus Buteo, so they are close relatives.
  • Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Side by side

Common buzzardRed-shouldered hawk
Scientific nameButeo buteoButeo lineatus
FamilyAccipitridaeAccipitridae
OrderAccipitriformesAccipitriformes
Weight550 g – 1.3 kg539 g – 701 g
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan25.3 years20 years
Main foodNot recordedNot recorded
Habitatgrasslandwoodland
Conservation statusLeast ConcernLeast Concern
Countries recordedNot recordedNot recorded

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: Common buzzardFull record: Red-shouldered hawkCompare other animals