European Honey-buzzard

European Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Masai Mara National Reserve
5 Verified sightings at Masai Mara National Reserve From 2019 to 2026
2,505 Verified sightings across all 70 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ 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 Masai Mara National Reserve

White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Bateleur
EN

Bateleur

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Terathopius ecaudatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Tawny Eagle
VU

Tawny Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aquila rapax

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Lappet-faced Vulture
EN

Lappet-faced Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Torgos tracheliotos

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Black-winged Kite
LC

Black-winged Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elanus caeruleus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Black-breasted Snake Eagle
LC

Black-breasted Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus pectoralis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Hooded Vulture
CR

Hooded Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Necrosyrtes monachus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Ruppell's griffon

Ruppell's griffon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps rueppellii

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
African Fish-Eagle
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Martial Eagle
EN

Martial Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Polemaetus bellicosus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Dark Chanting-Goshawk
LC

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax metabates

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Brown Snake Eagle
LC

Brown Snake Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Circaetus cinereus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

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

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a European Honey-buzzard in Masai Mara National Reserve?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a European Honey-buzzard sighting in Masai Mara National Reserve, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see European Honey-buzzard in Masai Mara National Reserve?

February has the highest sighting rate for European Honey-buzzard in Masai Mara National Reserve in our monthly data.

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