Pernis is a genus of birds in the raptor subfamily Perninae. Its members are commonly known as honey buzzards. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek pernes περνης, a term used by Aristotle for a bird of prey.[2]
| Pernis | |
|---|---|
| |
| European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Subfamily: | Perninae |
| Genus: | Pernis Cuvier, 1816 |
| Type species | |
| Falco apivorus[1] Linnaeus, 1758
| |
| Species | |
|
P. apivorus | |
They breed in temperate and warmer climates of the Old World, and are specialist feeders on wasp and bee larvae. The two temperate species, the European and crested honey buzzards, are migratory.
They breed in woodland, and are often inconspicuous except when displaying.
The members of this genus have plumage which mimics that of juvenile common buzzards or of Nisaetus hawk-eagles. It has been suggested that the similarity has arisen as a partial protection against predation by larger raptors such as goshawks, which may be wary about attacking what appears to be a better-protected species with stronger bill and talons than the honey buzzards actually possess.
Species
editIt consists of four medium-sized, broad-winged species.
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European honey buzzard or Eurasian honey buzzard
|
Pernis apivorus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
migratory: breeding Europe and western Asia, wintering Africa
|
Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Crested honey buzzard, eastern or oriental honey-buzzard
|
Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821) Six subspecies
|
Southeast Asia | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Barred honey buzzard
|
Pernis celebensis Wallace, 1868 |
Sulawesi. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Philippine honey buzzard
|
Pernis steerei WL Sclater, 1919 Two subspecies
|
Philippines. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
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Comparing sequences from a short subsection of the mitochondrial cytb gene, Gamulf and Haring found five clades: apivorus, steerei–winkleri, celebensis, philippensis–orientalis–ruficollis, and torquatus–ptilorhynchus–palawanensis. They proposed splitting the steerei–winkleri group from P. celebensis into a new species Pernis steerei, but felt that splitting Pernis ptilorhynchus would be "premature" given the lack of morphological differences.[3]
Despite the name "crested honey buzzard", the subspecies P. p. orientalis, P. p. philippensis, and P. p. palawanensis all lack crests.[3]
References
edit- British Birds, volume 99, March 2006
- Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, Mead and Burton Raptors of the World ISBN 0-7136-8026-1
- Gensbøl, Benny (1989). Collins guide to the Birds of Prey of Britain and Europe North Africa and the Middle East, William Collins Sons and Co Ltd. ISBN 0-00-219176-8
Notes
edit
- ^ "Accipitridae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
- ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ a b Gamauf, A.; Haring, E. (2004). "Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Honey-buzzards (genera Pernis and Henicopernis)". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 42 (2): 145–153. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0469.2004.00250.x. PDF