Buzzard vs. Vulture: Different Names for the Same Birds?

The term “buzzard” is a common word for the Buteo genus of raptors.

These soaring, predatory birds — such as the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) — are often called "buzzards" in the Old World, especially England. The common buzzard (Buteo buteo), for instance, is a hawk common to Europe and parts of Asia.

Early settlers in the Americas imported the word buzzard and used it to refer to other large, soaring birds, especially the turkey vulture. The name stuck, and so in North America especially, "buzzard" often refers to a vulture, not a hawk.

The species Buteo lagopus is a good example of the confusion: In North America, it's often called the rough-legged hawk, whereas in Europe, it's called the rough-legged buzzard. It's the same species, but the different common names can create some confusion.

When you're talking about vulture species, you should know that there are two different categories: Old and New World vultures. In fact, this is an excellent example of convergent evolution, which entails two different evolutionary lines heading in the same general direction.

New World vultures — like the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), black vultures (Coragyps atratus) — are found in the Americas, while Old World vultures inhabit Africa, Europe and Asia. Unlike the true buzzards, which hunt live prey, vultures primarily feed on dead prey, using their incredible sense of smell to locate food.

New World vultures evolved from crane-like birds. They have weaker feet than Old World vultures, who evolved from classic birds of prey with deadly talons. They hunt for rotting flesh using an exceptionally acute sense of smell, whereas the Old World vultures use their vision.

One of the key differences between vultures and buzzards is what they eat. Turkey vultures, for example, have an extraordinary sense of smell that helps them locate decaying animals from great distances.

Buzzards, on the other hand, rely on keen eyesight (much like their close relatives, the peregrine falcon and bald eagle) to capture live prey.

Vultures have evolved to consume carrion without getting sick, thanks to their strong stomach acids that kill harmful bacteria. Meanwhile, true buzzards are skilled hunters that capture small live animals using their sharp talons and powerful beaks.

While both birds play a role in keeping ecosystems balanced, their hunting and scavenging methods are quite different.

Vultures, particularly turkey vultures and black vultures, help prevent disease by consuming dead animals before they decompose. This makes them crucial for maintaining healthy environments, especially in regions like North and South America, where large populations of new world vultures thrive.

Buzzards, such as the red-shouldered hawk and rough-legged hawk, help control populations of rodents and other small animals. By hunting live prey, they contribute to maintaining the balance of predator-prey relationships in their habitats.

Despite their different diets, both groups of birds play a critical role in keeping nature in check.

In fact, many vulture species worldwide are suffering from population decline, in part related to human activities. As these creatures' ability to consume dead animals is unique among vertebrates, their vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems is in great need of protection [source: NIH].

While vultures and buzzards are often confused for one another, they are not closely related.

Old World vultures are more closely related to hawks and eagles, while New World vultures share ancestry with storks. Despite the name overlap, buzzards and vultures evolved separately, each developing unique adaptations to thrive in their environments.

So, next time you see a turkey vulture soaring overhead or a red-tailed hawk scanning the ground for prey, you’ll know exactly what makes these birds different. Just don't get confused and and call the vulture a turkey buzzard!

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.