Bird watching in India / SAARC Region - Crested Honey Buzzard or Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus

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Crested Honey Buzzard or Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus

The Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles, and harriers. This species is also known as the Oriental Honey Buzzard.

Range map from www.oiseaux.net - Ornithological Portal Oiseaux.net

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Description
Despite its name, this species is not related to Buteo buzzards, and is taxonomically closer to the kites. It appears long-necked with a small head (resembling that of a pigeon), and soars on flat wings. The head lacks a strong superciliary ridge, giving it a facial appearance very unlike a raptor. It has a long tail and a short head crest.

It is brown above, but not as dark as European honey buzzard, and paler below. A dark throat stripe is present. Unusually for a large bird of prey, the sexes can be distinguished. The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. She is slightly larger and darker than the male. The male has a black tail with a white band.

It breeds in Asia from central Siberia east to Japan. It is a summer migrant to Siberia, wintering in tropical Southeast Asia. Elsewhere, it is more-or-less resident. It is a specialist feeder, living mainly on the larvae of social bees and wasps, and eating bits of comb and honey;[5] it takes other small insect prey such as cicadas.

The crested honey buzzard breeds in woodland, and is inconspicuous except in the spring, when the mating display includes wing-clapping. The display of roller-coasting in flight and fluttering wings at the peak of the ascent are characteristic of the genus Pernis.

It is larger and longer-winged than its western counterpart, the European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus.

Roller coaster display of Pernis species

By Shyamal - Own work , CC BY 3.0 , Link

Mimicry
The similarity in plumage between juvenile crested honey buzzards and the Spizaetus hawk-eagles may have arisen as a partial protection against predation by larger raptors. The eagles have stronger bills and talons, and are likely to be less vulnerable than the Pernis species. Similar mimicry is shown by the juveniles of the European honey buzzard, which resembles the common buzzard. Although the northern goshawk is capable of killing both species, it is likely to be more cautious about attacking the better protected Buteo species.

Listen to the Crested Honey Buzzard

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

The effects of wind and climate change on migratory route
Crested buzzards that migrate from breeding areas in Japan to wintering areas in Southeast Asia fly over the East China Sea. This 700-km nonstop flight over water is possible because during autumn, winds over the sea blow in the same direction as the birds' direction of flight (i.e. wind support). As climate change affects wind conditions worldwide, the wind support over the East China Sea could be reduced.

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2006. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 28 Jan 2008.
Database entry includes justification for why the species is of least concern

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

www.birdforum.net

Sighted: (Date of first photo that I could use) 8th of March 2018
Location: Sundarban Tiger Reserve

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Crested Honey Buzzard or Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
8th of March 2018 - Sundarban Tiger Reserve

Crested Honey Buzzard or Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
14th of March 2018 - Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project

Crested Honey Buzzard or Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
15th of March 2018 - Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project

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