Buzzard is a name given to many birds of prey. Scientists consider the word buzzard to mean certain types of hawks. These hawks belong to a group called buteos. They include the common buzzard of the Eastern Hemisphere and the red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, and broad-winged hawk of the Western Hemisphere. Buzzards have heavy bodies and broad wings. They feed on a wide variety of animals, such as insects, snakes, and rodents.
Other members of the hawk family have the word buzzard in their name. These include honey-buzzards, buzzard-eagles, and eagle-buzzards.
In the Western Hemisphere, people often apply the term buzzard to turkey vultures and black vultures. However, scientists consider this use of the term to be incorrect.
