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European/Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

The European buzzard (properly referred to as the common buzzard) is a medium sized raptor found all over Europe. It has smaller feet than a red-tail of the same size, and as such, hunts correspondingly smaller game.

The original pair had raised 6 of 7 young their first year before the male died of old age. All the young were the same color morph as the adults. One of the progeny raised was placed in with the female, with the (now correct) hope that they would be fruitful.

The new young from the pairing of the son to the mother produced an unusual color morph. The first year, all of the young produced were of the unusual color morph. The second year, only one of the four were of the unusual color morph. It is best described as a blonde color. It appears to be some sort of trait brought on by the back crossing. Their pictures are below. We have now seen some of the blonde young after they have moulted, and the birds not only retain their blonde coloring, but gain some whiteness around their throats.

Pictures:

Click on an image below to view it full size.

	Normal color morph buzzard. Both the mother and father of the new pair are this color.
	Buzzard as seen through the chain link
	Back view of one of the "blonde" young
	The mother with the new "blonde" young
	Pair of adult buzzards, dark morph on the left, light morph on the right