Oriental Honey Buzzard By Gargi Mishra

Olfaction is a far greater ecological importance to this species. They use their strong sense of smell along with their vision to spot bee hives. It is our very own honey loving Oriental Honey Buzzard or Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

The only raptor that challenges every birdwatcher's skill with a wide range of plumage variations. Adult males are not always that straightforward as we might think. It is an Indian resident but spreads throughout the Subcontinent during winter. Despite the name this species is not related to buzzards rather taxonomically closer to Kites

It is a large bird of prey with long and broad wings, thick and strong legs, toes and talons. Longer neck, small, slender and protruding head and a weak, thin, long beak are its identification clues. Greyish-brown plumage is the most common phase with dark grey head and a stunted crest not usually visible

Male has a uniform dark brown upperpart with a bluish-grey face, two black tail-bands and brown iris

Female is darker and slightly larger than the male. She has three black tail-bands and yellow iris

I was quite surprised to see this daredevil completely immersed its head inside the bee hive seemed as if happily taking the stings. Well! that is not the case. Rather its dense, short scale like feathers (must be an adaptation) on the sides of its head and lore were protecting it from the honey bee stings

Being a specialist feeder, it raids bee hives, hornet and wasp nests for their larvae. Though its most preferred food is honey, occasionally fills its stomach with small birds, reptiles, frogs and insects

Voice is more like a mournful 'peeuw-peeeuw' or 'whee-whee'

This species is not globally threatened but degradation and loss of habitat and human interference like poaching and hunting impact it a great deal. The potential threat to its life is rapidly growing 'wind energy developments'

Photo By: Athiya Mahapatra