Population changes and territorial distribution of Common Buzzards Buteo buteo in the Central Highlands, Scotland

The population of Common Buzzard in a 94 km2 area of upper Strathspey, Scotland, increased from 14 to 22 adult pairs between 1971 and 1988-89. Territory size was not significantly different between the two dates. Territory size was unaffected by absolute length or proportion of boundary shared with other pairs, but was positively correlated with the proportion of thicket stage conifer plantation enclosed. Habitat strongly influenced territorial distribution.