honey buzzard

American  

noun

1. a long-tailed Old World hawk, Pernis apivorus, that feeds on the larvae of bees as well as on small rodents, reptiles, and insects.

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honey buzzard British  

noun

1. a common European bird of prey, Pernis apivorus, having broad wings and a typically dull brown plumage with white-streaked underparts: family Accipitridae (hawks, buzzards, etc). It feeds on grubs and honey from bees' nests

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Etymology

Origin of honey buzzard

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

As occasional visitors may be reckoned the wax-wing, golden oriole, cross-bill, hoopoe, white-tailed eagle, honey buzzard, ruff, puffin, great bustard, Iceland gull, glaucous gull, and Bewick's swan.

From Somerset by Wade, G. W.

Not only had the honey buzzard never returned to nest on the beeches of the Hanger since 1780, but it had continued to decrease everywhere in England and was now extinct.

From Birds and Man by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)

For instance, anyone can get a foreign specimen of — say, the honey buzzard — for about 8s., but a locally-killed specimen would be very likely to cost several pounds.

From Practical Taxidermy A manual of instruction to the amateur in collecting, preserving, and setting up natural history specimens of all kinds. To which is added a chapter upon the pictorial arrangement of museums. With additional instructions in modelling and artistic taxidermy. by Browne, Montagu

These include the South American caracaras; the European rough-legged falcon; the European kite; the Indian colny falcon; varieties of the honey buzzard; and the North American spotted-tailed hobby.

From How to See the British Museum in Four Visits by Jerrold, W. Blanchard