Birds of Prey of the Czech Republic: Identification Quiz and Guide

🦅 Test yourself: can you recognise our birds of prey?

Play a quiz with more than 36 questions at three difficulty levels. Learn how the bills of different raptors differ, why the kestrel hovers in one spot and where the white-tailed eagle nests.

A guide to the birds of prey of the Czech Republic: the 8 most important species

More than 30 species of birds of prey occur in the Czech Republic. We will focus on the eight you are most likely to meet or which are among the most important for nature conservation.

Common buzzard – Buteo buteo

The common buzzard is undoubtedly the most numerous bird of prey in Czechia and, for many observers, "that brown bird over the field". Its wingspan is 110–130 cm and it weighs around 700–1,400 g. Females are up to a third larger than males. The colouring is very variable – from dark brown to almost white – but a pale breast with a brown band like a necklace is typical.

The buzzard feeds mainly on voles and other rodents, which it catches with its talons. In recognition of its role in the ecosystem – it limits rodent outbreaks in fields and helps farmers – the Czech Society for Ornithology named it Bird of the Year 2021. It nests throughout the Czech Republic in open woodland and in copses on the edges of fields.

In flight, the buzzard soars for long periods with its wings slightly raised in a characteristic shallow "V". You will typically see it perched on roadside posts – unfortunately, that is also where tragic collisions with cars happen. Nature-inspired candle holders and wooden decorations from AMADEA are a lovely reminder of the beauty of the Czech landscape.

Common kestrel – Falco tinnunculus

The kestrel is the easiest bird of prey to identify thanks to its unique hunting method: it hovers on the spot, beating its wings rapidly – a "helicopter" flight – while scanning the ground below for prey. This clearly distinguishes the kestrel from other raptors. It is about the size of a pigeon (body length 32–39 cm) and has narrow, pointed falcon wings.

The male kestrel is striking with its grey head, grey tail with a black terminal band and a cinnamon back with dark spots. Females and young birds are browner overall and harder to tell apart. The kestrel is exceptionally adaptable – it nests on tall buildings in towns, in church towers and in the countryside. It feeds mainly on voles, insects and lizards.

Today the kestrel is a resident and common bird of prey throughout the Czech Republic. You may even spot it in Prague, Brno or another large town – watch the recesses under the roofs of tower blocks.

Peregrine falcon – Falco peregrinus

The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth – in a hunting dive (stoop) it reaches speeds of over 389 km/h. It is a medium-sized raptor (length 36–48 cm) with a typical dark "moustache" on a pale face, a blue-grey back and pale, finely barred underparts. It flies with short, powerful wingbeats.

In the Czech Republic the peregrine is a specially protected species. In the 1970s it almost disappeared because of pesticides (especially DDT), which caused eggshells to thin. Thanks to conservation programmes and the ban on DDT, its population is slowly recovering. Today it nests on cliffs and on tall buildings in towns – such as Prague or Olomouc – where it hunts mainly pigeons.

The peregrine has been used in falconry since the Middle Ages and is a symbol of speed and nobility. As a pursuit hunter, it chases prey in open airspace with a steep dive from above.

White-tailed eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla

The white-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey living in the Czech Republic. Its wingspan reaches up to 2.4 metres and it can weigh over 7 kg. Adults have a characteristic white wedge-shaped tail that is impossible to miss in flight. The wings are exceptionally broad and long – in flight it looks like a flying door. A pale yellow bill and pale yellow eyes complete the look of this majestic raptor.

In Czechia the white-tailed eagle was almost wiped out, and breeding was restored thanks to a conservation programme launched in 1988. Today around 100 pairs nest here. It seeks out large bodies of water and fishponds – you are most likely to see it in the Třeboň region, Poodří or South Moravia. It feeds mainly on fish, a large proportion of them dead, so it cannot really be considered a pest for fish farmers.

The white-tailed eagle nests in massive old trees, where it builds huge nests (up to 2 m across). The pair look after the nest together and return to it every year. Seeing one is among the most impressive experiences Czech nature has to offer.

Northern goshawk – Accipiter gentilis

The goshawk is an ambush hunter – it hunts with lightning-fast manoeuvres in dense forest, chasing its prey between the trees. It is a robust raptor (length 48–62 cm, wingspan 89–122 cm), larger than the sparrowhawk. Adults have a dark grey back, a white eyebrow and dense barring on their pale underparts. The red eyes of adult birds are characteristic.

The goshawk nests in old broadleaved and mixed forests throughout the Czech Republic. It hunts pheasants, pigeons and hares, and near villages also poultry – which is why it does not have a good reputation among farmers and hunters. In fact, it plays an important role in regulating forest bird populations. It nests high up in trees and needs peace and quiet.

The goshawk has typically short, rounded wings and a relatively long tail, which allows it to make lightning manoeuvres among the treetops. If you want to see a goshawk in its natural setting, head to the edge of an old beech wood in March – that is when its noisy courtship displays take place.

Eurasian sparrowhawk – Accipiter nisus

The sparrowhawk is one of the smallest birds of prey in Czech forests and a master of surprise attacks. The male (length about 28 cm) is hardly bigger than a mistle thrush – the female is considerably larger (37 cm), almost the size of a pigeon. The adult male has a blue-grey back and rusty-orange barring on the breast. Adults have bright orange to yellow eyes. The female has a brown-grey back and brown barring.

The sparrowhawk hunts songbirds and other small birds in fast, low attacks – often along hedgerows, across gardens and along forest edges. Although it is a fairly common species throughout the Czech Republic, you will rarely spot it in the wild – it spends most of its time hidden, waiting for a chance to attack. It nests in forests, copses and even gardens near towns.

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Red kite – Milvus milvus

The red kite is an elegant, airy raptor with the most striking feature of all Czech birds of prey: a deeply forked, rusty-red tail. White patches on the underside of the wings distinguish it from its relative, the black kite. Its body length is 61–72 cm and its wingspan 140–165 cm. In flight it constantly twists its tail like a rudder, giving it a typical "dancing" movement.

In the Czech Republic the red kite is a specially protected species. It almost disappeared, and breeding resumed only from 1976 in South Moravia. Today its population is growing, but it is still a scarce bird. It nests in woods near water with open countryside around. A large part of its diet consists of dead animals it finds – it effectively acts as a "sanitation officer" of the landscape.

The red kite nests in several parts of Moravia – including the White Carpathians and Poodří. You can also watch it in pond landscapes, where it glides low over open country, constantly scanning the ground.

European honey buzzard – Pernis apivorus

The honey buzzard is one of the most interesting raptors in Czechia – it hunts completely differently from the others. It specialises in wasp and bee combs, which it digs out of underground nests with its claws. It brings whole wasp combs to its young in the nest. It is a migratory species that spends the winter in tropical Africa – in the Czech Republic it breeds only from May to September.

The honey buzzard is similar in size to the common buzzard (length 52–60 cm). It is easily mistaken for one, but adult males have a grey head and a typically barred tail with two dark bands near the base. Body colouring is very variable – from dark brown to almost white. Heavily scaled legs and stiff, scale-like facial feathers protect it from stings when digging out nests.

In Czechia the honey buzzard is a fairly common migratory raptor that breeds in forests throughout the country, especially in areas rich in old broadleaved woodland. Beautiful wooden decorations or wooden puzzles with nature motifs from AMADEA are a great way to bring the beauty of nature closer to children.

The most common mix-ups among birds of prey: where people go wrong

Even experienced nature watchers sometimes misidentify a raptor. Here are the three most common mix-ups to watch out for.

Comparison table: 8 Czech birds of prey at a glance

Frequently asked questions about birds of prey in the Czech Republic