Eastern Buzzard
Buteo japonicus
普通鵟
Introduction
Medium to large bird of prey in the genus Buteo. Scientific name: Buteo japonicus. Previously considered conspecific with the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) but treated as a distinct species since 2008, though taxonomic treatment remains variable with some authorities recognizing one to three subspecies. Native to East Asia, including parts of Russia and South Asia. Winters in Southeast Asia. Carnivorous raptor. Closely related and similar in appearance to the steppe buzzard.
Identification
Very similar to the steppe buzzard (Buteo buteo vulpinus), making field identification challenging without detailed observation of plumage characteristics and range.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds across Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, North Korea, and Japan. Four subspecies with distinct breeding and wintering ranges: B. j. burmanicus breeds in Siberia, Mongolia, northern China, and North Korea, winters in Southeast Asia; B. j. japonicus breeds only in Japan, winters from southern Japan to southeastern China and Taiwan; B. j. toyoshimai occurs in the Izu Islands and Bonin Islands; B. j. oshiroi is found in the Daito Islands.
Behavior & Ecology
Carnivorous diet typical of birds of prey in the Buteo genus.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Buteo
- eBird Code
- combuz6
Subspecies (4)
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Buteo japonicus burmanicus
breeds southeastern Siberia (Transbaikalia) and northern Mongolia eastward to eastern, northeastern Siberia and northeastern China; winters to southern and southeastern Asia
-
Buteo japonicus japonicus
breeds Japan; winters southern Japan to Taiwan and southeastern China
-
Buteo japonicus oshiroi
Daito Islands
-
Buteo japonicus toyoshimai
Izu and Bonin islands
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.