CreatureData

Common buzzard vs Red-tailed hawk

The red-tailed hawk is heavier: 1.1 kg against 759.1 g for the common buzzard, about 45% more.

Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common buzzard LCLeast Concern
Photo: caroline legg · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Red-tailed hawk LCLeast Concern
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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

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

  • The red-tailed hawk is heavier: 1.1 kg against 759.1 g for the common buzzard, about 45% more.
  • The red-tailed hawk is longer-lived: 25.5 years against 25.3 years for the common buzzard, about 1% 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-tailed hawk
Scientific nameButeo buteoButeo jamaicensis
FamilyAccipitridaeAccipitridae
OrderAccipitriformesAccipitriformes
Weight550 g – 1.3 kg1.03 kg – 1.22 kg
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan25.3 years25.5 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-tailed hawkCompare other animals