TERMS APIVORUS. ISO 



Above dark brown, below rufous brown ; bill black. Heal and throat 

 whitish, with black stripss. Tail brown, not much forked. Length 22 

 inches. 



198. Pernis apivorus (Linnseus). The Honey-Buzzard. 



Moorish. Khabbas el grain (Favier). Spanish. Aguila de 

 Moros. 



" Only observed near Tangier during passage, migrating north 

 during April and May, returning in August and September. 

 The autumnal migration is not in such great nights as the vernal 

 one, the greatest number seen in autumn being from twelve to 

 fourteen, usually six or eight, while in spring nights of many 

 more than a hundred may be seen crossing the Straits in a body. 

 Their plumage is so variable, it is almost impossible to find two 

 exactly alike." Favier. 



The Honey-Buzzard, as above stated, is to be seen in swarms 

 during the spring migration, which extends over some twenty 

 days, being at its climax about the 8th of May, but many 

 hundreds passed on the 12th of May between Gibraltar and 

 Malaga. The latest flight noticed was on the 15th of that 

 month. When they have once passed the water the passage is 

 usually made in a gyrating flight of eccentric circles, sometimes 

 very high and as often within shot of the ground. They seem, 

 when thus circling onwards, as if about to alight ; but I never 

 saw them do so, nor ever saw them except at the period of 

 migration. Lord Lilford observed large flocks passing south in 

 September. 



We found the Honey-Buzzard nesting in the province of 

 Liebana near Santander, in 1876 ; it would be interesting to 

 know their most southern breeding-range. 



Lores or spaces between eyes and bill covered with feathers ; legs finely 

 reticulated all round. (Perms.) 



Adult male. Head ash-grey ; above brown ; below white, the chest 

 barred and spotted with brown. 



Adult female. Like male, but has not the grey head. 



