buzzard

n.[ O.E. busard, bosard, F. busard, fr. buse, L. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Zool.) A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus Buteo and related genera. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) In the United States, a term used for the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), and sometimes indiscriminately to any vulture. [ PJC ]

☞ 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 larvæ, with other insects, and reptiles. -- The moor buzzard of Europe is Circus æruginosus. 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 ]