European Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAccipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Allies)
FamilyAccipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GenusPernis (Typical Honey-buzzards)
SpeciesPernis apivorus (European Honey-buzzard)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Cairngorms National Park

1 Verified sightings at Cairngorms National Park From 2019 to 2026

2,505 Verified sightings across all 70 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the European Honey-buzzard

The European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) is an insectivorous bird of prey in the family Accipitridae breeding in Europe and western Asia, and wintering in Africa. The European honey buzzard was formally described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae. He placed it with the falcons and eagles in the genus Falco and coined the binomial name Falco apivorus. Linnaeus cited earlier works including the 1678 description by the English naturalist Francis Willughby and the 1713 description by John Ray.

The European honey buzzard is one of four species now placed in the genus Pernis that was described by Georges Cuvier in 1816. It is a monotypic species, with no subspecies being recognised. The genus is more closely related to kites in the genera Leptodon and Chondrohierax, than to the true buzzards in Buteo.

The binomen is derived from Ancient Greek pernes πέρνης, a term used by Aristotle for a bird of prey, and Latin apivorus "bee-eating", from apis, "bee" and -vorus, "-eating". In the 19th century, it was also sometimes known as the 'pern' or 'common pern', from the scientific name.

The European honey buzzard is... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Cairngorms National Park

Buteo buteo

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Milvus milvus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Aquila chrysaetos

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Accipiter nisus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Circus aeruginosus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Haliaeetus albicilla

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Circus cyaneus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Buteo lagopus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Pandion haliaetus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

See all 9 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Mercantour National Park	🇫🇷 France	~10%
2	Ecrins National Park	🇫🇷 France	~10%
3	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~10%
4	Aigüestortes National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
5	Pyrénées National Park	🇫🇷 France	~10%
6	Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
7	Plitvice Lakes National Park	🇭🇷 Croatia	~10%
8	Picos de Europa National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
9	Cévennes National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
10	Hohe Tauern National Park	🇦🇹 Austria	<5%
11	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	<5%
12	Vanoise National Park	🇫🇷 France	<5%
13	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	<5%
14	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
15	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	<5%
16	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
17	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
18	Tatra National Park	🇸🇰 Slovakia	<5%
19	Gauja National Park	🇱🇻 Latvia	<5%
20	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
21	Sierra Nevada National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
22	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
23	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
24	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
25	Kibale National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
26	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	<5%
27	Monfragüe National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
28	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
29	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	<5%
30	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
31	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
32	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
33	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
34	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
35	Nyungwe National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	<5%
36	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
37	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	<5%
38	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
39	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
40	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
41	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
42	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
43	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
44	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
45	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
46	Selous Game Reserve	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
47	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
48	Mikumi National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
49	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
50	Semuliki National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
51	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	Insufficient data
52	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
53	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
54	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
55	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	Insufficient data
56	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
57	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
58	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
59	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
60	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
61	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
62	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
63	Aberdare National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
64	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
65	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	Insufficient data
66	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	Insufficient data
67	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
68	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	Insufficient data
69	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	Insufficient data
70	Cairngorms National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	Insufficient data

← Back to Cairngorms National Park

European Honey-buzzard

About the European Honey-buzzard

Recent sightings of European Honey-buzzard in Cairngorms National Park

Closest Relatives at Cairngorms National Park

Common Buzzard

Red Kite

Golden Eagle

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Western Marsh-Harrier

White-tailed Eagle

Hen Harrier

Rough-legged Hawk

Osprey

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found