CreatureData

Common buzzard vs Rough-legged buzzard

The rough-legged buzzard is heavier: 949.8 g against 759.1 g for the common buzzard, about 25% more.

Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Common buzzard LCLeast Concern
Photo: caroline legg · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Rough-legged buzzard LCLeast Concern
Photo: Marton Berntsen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a common buzzard and a rough-legged buzzard?

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

  • The rough-legged buzzard is heavier: 949.8 g against 759.1 g for the common buzzard, about 25% more.
  • The common buzzard is longer-lived: 25.3 years against 17.9 years for the rough-legged buzzard, about 42% 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 buzzardRough-legged buzzard
Scientific nameButeo buteoButeo lagopus
FamilyAccipitridaeAccipitridae
OrderAccipitriformesAccipitriformes
Weight550 g – 1.3 kg824.6 g – 1.05 kg
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan25.3 years17.9 years
Main foodNot recordedvertebrates
Habitatgrasslandgrassland
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: Rough-legged buzzardCompare other animals