Hawks and eagles
Crested Honey Buzzard
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Pernis ptilorhynchus
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How to recognize it
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Length 55–60 cm; long neck and small head
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Short pointed crest
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Brown upperparts, pale underparts, dark throat stripe
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Male with a grey head, female with a brown head; soars alone or in pairs
About the species
In a glide, the Crested Honey Buzzard shows a brown back and paler underside, with a pale throat marked by a narrow dark stripe. A short, pointed crest lifts from the back of its head, and dark bands cross its long tail. Males have blue-grey heads, while females are browner and darker; the tail-band pattern varies.
It often circles alone or in pairs above the trees, alternating deep wingbeats with long glides on nearly level wings. Usually quiet even around the nest, it may give a single, high, piercing whistle; in spring, its display includes clapping its wings.
It uses wooded lowlands and hills with clearings, and in parts of South and Southeast Asia may turn up in small groves near villages. Social wasp and bee larvae make up most of its food: in Japan it digs up underground nests, while in wintering areas it also raids nests in trees; cicadas are another meal. Populations from Siberia and Japan head south for winter to Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where some remain year-round.
Where to find
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In wooded areas broken by open glades, scan the sky for a Crested Honey Buzzard soaring alone or in pairs.
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In Japanese forests from April to August, look for underground wasp nests dug open with talons to reach the larvae.
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In South Asian wintering forests, watch for attacks on wasp nests in trees, where larvae and pupae are taken.
