European Honey-buzzard
Pernis apivorus
- 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)
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 Ecrins National Park
Griffon Vulture
Gyps fulvus
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
Short-toed Eagle
Circaetus gallicus
Black Kite
Milvus migrans
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Montagu's Harrier
Circus pygargus
Western Marsh-Harrier
Circus aeruginosus
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
Red Kite
Milvus milvus
Cinereous Vulture
Aegypius monachus
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a European Honey-buzzard in Ecrins National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a European Honey-buzzard sighting in Ecrins National Park, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see European Honey-buzzard in Ecrins National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for European Honey-buzzard in Ecrins National Park in our monthly data.