Common Buzzard (also known as Eurasian Buzzard)

This feather belongs to the Common Buzzard, a medium-large hawk with a broad-winged, short-tailed silhouette. The bird itself varies wildly in plumage from very dark brown to almost white. They are known for their 'peee-uu' mewing call and can often be seen soaring in thermals or perched on roadside posts.

Dark brown distal end (tip) transitioning to a white base. The trailing edge features 4-5 distinct dark chocolate brown transverse bars against a creamy white or pale grey background.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous structure throughout most of the vane for aerodynamic efficiency; plumulaceous (downy) at the very base (calamus).

Smooth and somewhat stiff surface with a matte finish. The trailing edge feels softer than the rigid leading edge.

Broad white base with distinct dark brown banding; ivory-colored rachis; asymmetrical secondary shape.

Thrives in varied landscapes including woodlands, moorlands, pastures, and marshlands. Often nests in trees bordering open fields.

Widespread throughout Europe and Asia; mostly resident in Western Europe, while eastern populations are highly migratory.

Apex predator and scavenger; helps control rodent populations and cleans up carrion, acting as a vital indicator of ecosystem health.

Red-tailed Hawk (different geographic range/rufous tones), European Honey Buzzard (more regular, thinner bars), or Goshawk (finer, more numerous bars).

Common Buzzards are highly territorial but also opportunistic, feeding on everything from earthworms and rabbits to carrion. They are often mobbed by crows.

Good condition; slight mechanical wear (fraying) at the tip and along the trailing edge suggests it was molted naturally at the end of a breeding season.