Rarity – Dark morphed long legged buzzard, DNP

The long-legged buzzard is a bird of prey in the genus Buteo. It feeds mostly on small rodents, although it will also take lizards, snakes, small birds and large insects. There are many different colour forms, but usually long-leggeds have a clear orange tint to the plumage, red or orange tail, pale head and largely white underwings. There is usually a distinctive black carpal patch and dark trailing edge to the wing. The rump and “trousers” are often dark or deep rufous. Plumage varies from ghostly pale individuals to very dark ones. Some plumages are almost similar to those of the steppe buzzard, the eastern subspecies of the common buzzard. This is classified as least concern by IUCN.