from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.]
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1. (Zool.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to
the genus {Buteo} and related genera.
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2. (Zool.) 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}.
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2. A blockhead; a dunce.
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It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
buzzard. --Goldsmith.
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