buzzard

buzzard
    n 1: a New World vulture that is common in South America and
         Central America and the southern United States [syn:
         {buzzard}, {turkey buzzard}, {turkey vulture}, {Cathartes
         aura}]
    2: the common European short-winged hawk [syn: {buzzard}, {Buteo
       buteo}]
    

Buzzard \Buz"zard\, a.
   Senseless; stupid. [R. & Obs.] --Milton.
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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}.
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   {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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