Breeding of the Long-legged Buzzard in Sumy region. - A.I. Stativa, N.P. Knysh. - Berkut. 19 (1-2). 2010. - P. 113-115.
Long-legged Buzzard is a rare but expanding species in Ukraine. In Sumy region (NE Ukraine) two nests were found for the first time in 2010 (Lypova Dolyna district, 50.33 N, 34.02 E and 50.36 N, 34.07 E). They were located in a forest belt among fields and in a grassland ravine. Both nests were built in crotches (maple and willow). Pairs raised two and one youngs. Buzzards hunted on fields and grassland slopes of ravines. In 53% cases birds looked for the prey on the ground, in 35% – in flight and in 12% – sitting in trees or on haycocks (n = 17). Pellets mainly consisted of wool and bones of rodents. Microtus arvalis, Apodemus agrarius and Spalax microphthalmus were identified. Many pellets had also remnants of repriles (predominantly Lacerta agilis) and chitin of insects (mainly beetles). These finds move the northern border of breeding range of the Long-legged Buzzard in 85–90 km to the North. [Ukrainian].
Key words: Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus, distribution, nest, habitat, feeding, behaviour.
Address: A.I. Stativa, Gagarin str., 29, Pidstavky, Lypova Dolyna district, Sumy region, 42535, Ukraine; e-mail: astat70@mail.ru.