csigahéja

Csigahéja is the Hungarian word for a bird of prey that feeds on snails. This term generally refers to the European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus, and to a lesser extent, other related species like the Oriental honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus. These birds are named for their specialized diet, which primarily consists of the larvae and adults of social wasps and bees, along with their honeycombs.

The European honey buzzard is a migratory bird, spending its summers in Europe and winters in Africa. They are often mistaken for common buzzards due to their similar size and shape, but they possess distinct characteristics. Their head is typically narrower and more pointed, with a more rounded wingtip. Their tail often has narrow, dark bands.

Csigahéja have adaptations for their unique diet, including dense plumage on their heads to protect against insect stings and a specialized nostril structure that can be closed. They hunt by perching and watching for insect nests or by walking on the ground and digging with their feet.

While the term "csigahéja" specifically translates to "snail hawk," its common usage in Hungarian ornithology refers to the honey buzzard due to the birds' association with insects found in the soil and near vegetation, where snails might also be found, rather than a direct predation on gastropods. The primary prey preference remains hymenopterans.