It is between 51 cm to 57 cm in length. The wings are between 110–150 cm when spread out. They may be coloured from almost pure white to black. Usually, they are brown.

The buzzard will normally breed in woodlands. It will hunt over open land. It eats mainly small prey, such as insects, rodents, small birds and eggs. The buzzard is an opportunistic predator that can take a wide variety of prey, but it feeds mostly on small mammals, especially rodents such as voles. It typically hunts from a perch. It may also take prey heavier than itself, like adult grouse, and rabbits. It can be seen walking over recently ploughed fields looking for worms and insects.

Buzzards do not normally form flocks, but several may be seen together on migration. Pairs mate for life.