- Cathartes aura
- Buzzard Buz"zard (b[u^]z"z[~e]rd), n.[O.E. busard, bosard, F.
busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
the genus {Buteo} and related genera.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zo["o]l.) In the United States, a term used for the {turkey vulture} ({Cathartes aura}), and sometimes indiscriminately to any vulture. [PJC]
Note: The {Buteo vulgaris} is the common buzzard of Europe. The American species (of which the most common are {Buteo borealis}, {Buteo Pennsylvanicus}, and {Buteo lineatus}) are usually called hen hawks. -- The rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe ({Pernis apivorus}) feeds on bees and their larv[ae], with other insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is {Circus [ae]ruginosus}. See {Turkey buzzard}, and {Carrion buzzard}. [1913 Webster]
{Bald buzzard}, the fishhawk or osprey. See {Fishhawk}. [1913 Webster]
2. A blockhead; a dunce. [1913 Webster]
It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
