The HONEY BUZZARD, or WASP KITE (_Pernis apivorus_) may be regarded as
forming the connecting link between the Buzzards and True Kites. In this
bird the body, wings, tail, and beak are long, the latter, moreover, is
shallow, weak, and but slightly curved towards its tip; the third quill
of the wings exceeds the others in length, and the cheek-stripes are
covered with short, stiff feathers; the plumage of this species is also
harsher, and lies closer than that of the Buzzards above described. Its
length is from twenty-three to twenty-four inches, its breadth fifty-two
to fifty-four inches; the wing measures fifteen, and the tail nine
inches. The plumage varies very considerably, both in its colour and
markings, and it is, therefore, difficult to make any decided statements
on these points. The male is sometimes of an uniform brown, the tail
alone being adorned with three large and several small stripes; the head
is greyish blue; sometimes, however, we find the upper parts of the body
brown, and the lower spotted more or less with white; or the feathers
on these portions white, with brown spots and streaks upon the shafts.
The young are usually brown or yellowish brown, the feathers having dark
shafts, except those on the nape, which are light. The eye is either
golden, or of a silvery whiteness; the beak is black, the cere bright
yellow, and the feet lemon colour.
The Honey Buzzard inhabits all the southern and central countries of
Southern Europe, and during the course of its migrations frequently
journeys as far as Western Africa. In disposition it is cowardly, dull,
and indolent; its movements have been described in such contradictory
terms, that we can scarcely imagine them to be applied to the same
species; according, however, to our own observations, its flight is
light and beautiful, it can rise to a great height, and describes an
endless variety of evolutions in the air; like most of its congeners,
it runs well, and often pursues its prey upon the ground. Its voice is
monotonous, and its call-note sometimes prolonged for whole minutes at
a time. The food of this species differs from that of any other Bird of
Prey, for it lives principally upon wasp-grubs, very carefully avoiding
such as are full-grown, and, therefore, protected by their sting. It
also devours beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, frogs, mice, and rats;
and will frequently linger near a Hawk until the latter has finished
its meal, in the hope of securing what is left. During the summer it
occasionally eats various kinds of berries.
The eyrie is usually placed at no great height, upon the branches of
some sturdy beech or oak; pines and fir-trees being but rarely resorted
to. The nest, which the bird is at no pains to conceal, is carelessly
constructed of dry twigs, so lightly thrown together that the brood
is often visible through its walls. The eggs, from two to four in
number, are sometimes round, sometimes oval; the shell is more or less
smooth, and either yellowish red or brownish white, marbled with lines
of different tints, which, like the colour, are so very variable that
any description of them would be useless. The young are reared upon
caterpillars, flies, and other insects, with which they are supplied
from the crops of the parent birds; at a later period they are fed upon
honeycombs, filled with bee-grubs, also upon frogs, birds, and other
substantial diet.
Behrends relates the following facts to prove how tame the Honey Buzzard
may become: "My bird," he says, "before it had been many weeks in the
house, learnt to attach itself not only to certain individuals of the
family, but to my dogs, towards one of the latter, in particular, it
exhibited great affection, following it about, and perching close to it
whilst it slept. This bird was allowed to run at large about the house,
and never found a door standing open without calling loudly until it was
shut. It answered to the name of 'Jack,' but would only come at my call
when hungry, or in a particularly good humour. I have seen it spring on
to a lady's lap or shoulder, and play with her hair by drawing a lock
through its beak, at the same time uttering a piping kind of cry; it
would also raise its wing in order to be scratched, a performance that
it much enjoyed. When hungry it used to rush screaming through the house
until it found my maid, upon whose dress it clambered in its energetic
endeavours to have its wants attended to. If not immediately satisfied
its cries became frightful, and it would assume a very pugnacious
attitude, as though it would say, 'You had better be careful how you
trifle with me.' Bread and milk was the diet it preferred, but it would
eat meat, porridge, and potatoes; wasps it merely killed, without
eating them. 'Jack' was extremely susceptible to cold, and would hide
near the stove during the winter, remaining very quiet, as he knew well
that his presence in our sitting-room was against rules. His general
demeanour somewhat resembled that of a Crow, his movements were slow and
deliberate, and it was only when alarmed or pursued that he sought safety
by taking a series of short jumps. I only succeeded in keeping him for
three years."